Corruption and the Public Display of Wealth
Fabrizi, Simona; Lippert, Steffen
Cite this item:
Fabrizi, S., & Lippert, S. (2012). Corruption and the Public Display of Wealth (Economics Discussion Papers Series No. 1202). University of Otago. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/10523/2338
Permanent link to OUR Archive version:
http://hdl.handle.net/10523/2338
Abstract:
We build a principal-agent-client model of corruption, allowing for heterogeneity in the value of public projects relative to the cost of monitoring their execution and for uncertainty of corruptors regarding the value of a project conducted. We derive the conditions under which officials with low-value projects have an incentive to signal their projects' type, and thereby facilitate their corruption, by means of public displays of wealth. While such public displays reduce the probability with which bribes are offered to officials conducting high-value projects, they increase the probability with which these officials accept bribes sufficiently to offset any positive effect.
Date:
2012-06
Publisher:
University of Otago
Series number:
1202
ISSN:
1178-2293
Keywords:
corruption; incentives; signaling; public displays of wealth
Research Type:
Discussion Paper
Languages:
English
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- Economics [318]
- Discussion Paper [441]