HPS³ - Miriam Golden - Corruption as a Shared Dilemma: Survey Evidence from Legislators and Citizens in Three Countries

This event takes place in English.

The Hamburg Political Science Seminar Series (HPS³) features international speakers presenting cutting-edge research in empirical political science and political economy.

We welcome on Wednesday, June 18, 2025 - 12:15-13:45 CET in VMP9 A315

Miriam Golden (Stanford University)

Title: Corruption as a Shared Dilemma: Survey Evidence from Legislators and Citizens in Three Countries

Co-authored with Matteo Ferroni and Raymond Fisman

Abstract:

We collect information about tolerance for corruption from legislators and citizens using parallel surveys. In Colombia, Italy, and Pakistan both groups respond similarly to hypothetical scenarios involving tradeoffs between, for example, probity and efficiency. We find that citizens and legislators view corruption as undesirable but prevalent: that is, both groups believe politicians would generally select the corrupt option in each scenario. Politicians, unlike citizens, believe they would be exposed and prosecuted if they engaged in corrupt activities. Our novel descriptive data also reveal that most legislators accurately perceive public opinion about corruption and appreciate its importance to voters. An informational treatment successfully realigns the views of the subset of politicians who underestimate the public's perceptions of corruption.  Overall, results suggest that barriers to effective anti-corruption policies may not lie with lack of information by legislators. 

The HPS³ seminars take place in person at the UHH. Please find the preliminary program on the HPS³ Website.

We invite everyone interested to attend the HPS Seminar Series and are looking forward to seeing you.