Program > Papers by author > Melki Mickael

Polarization and Corruption in America
Mickael Melki  1, *@  , Andrew Pickering  2@  
1 : Paris School of Business  (PSB)  -  Website
pub : ParisSchool of Business, Paris School of Business
59 rue Nationale 75013 Paris -  France
2 : Department of Economics and Related Studies  -  Website
"Department of Economics and Related Studies University of York York YO10 5DD United Kingdom" -  United Kingdom
* : Corresponding author

Using panel data from the US states, we document a robust negative relationship between state-level government corruption and ideological polarization. This finding is sustained when state polarization is instrumented using lagged state neighbor ideology. We argue that polarization enhances political accountability. Consistent with this thesis federal prosecutorial effort falls and case quality increases with polarization. The effect of polarization is dampened when there are other means of monitoring governments in particular strong media coverage of state politics. Tangible anti-corruption measures including the stringency of state ethics' laws and independent commissions for redistricting are also associated with increased state polarization.


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