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Abstract
The purpose of this study is to explore the intricate interplay between transparency, accountability, and corruption within contemporary governance systems. Employing a multidisciplinary approach, the research design incorporates empirical evidence and theoretical frameworks from diverse fields to elucidate the complex dynamics of this nexus. Methodologically, the study synthesizes existing literature and conducts comparative analyses to identify key patterns and insights regarding the effectiveness of transparency-enhancing measures and accountability mechanisms in combating corruption. The findings underscore a compelling association between increased transparency and reduced levels of corruption, highlighting the pivotal role of robust accountability structures in ensuring integrity within governance systems. Implications of the study extend to both academic scholarship and practical policymaking, emphasizing the importance of adopting a holistic approach that integrates transparency and accountability measures to effectively address corruption challenges. Key implications include the need for tailored interventions that consider contextual factors, such as institutional quality and societal norms, and the imperative of leveraging technological innovations and social mobilization to empower citizens and confront corruption. This study contributes to advancing our understanding of governance dynamics and informs evidence-based strategies for promoting transparency, strengthening accountability, and combating corruption in diverse contexts.
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References
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- Baiocchi, G., Heller, P., & Silva, M. K. (2014). Bootstrapping democracy: Transforming local governance and civil society in Brazil. Stanford University Press. https://doi.org/10.11126/stanford/9780804789619.001.0001
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- Bauhr, M., & Grimes, M. (2014). Indignation or resignation: The implications of transparency for societal accountability. Governance, 27(2), 291–320. https://doi.org/10.1111/gove.12066
- Besley, T., & Burgess, R. (2002). The political economy of government responsiveness: Theory and evidence from India. The Quarterly Journal of Economics, 117(4), 1415–1451. https://doi.org/10.1162/003355302320935025
- Brusca, I. (2018). Transparency, budgetary management, and audit systems. Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory, 28(4), 519-533. https://doi.org/10.1093/jopart/muy002
- Chêne, M., & Domingo, P. (2020). The implementation of participatory budgeting: Lessons from participatory processes in Europe. Palgrave Macmillan. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-27523-3
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- Davis, K. E., & Törő, C. (2018). Globalization and governance: Introduction to the special issue. Governance, 31(4), 607-612. https://doi.org/10.1111/gove.12365
- Djankov, S., McLiesh, C., & Nenova, T. (2008). Whose bribes are more? Journal of Public Economics, 92(12), 2067–2081. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpubeco.2008.03.001
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- Grindle, M. S. (2017). Public authority in crisis: Authority without credibility, credibility without authority. Governance, 30(1), 165-175. https://doi.org/10.1111/gove.12247
- Heywood, P. M. (2021). Understanding political corruption. In P. Heywood & J. Johnson (Eds.), The Routledge handbook of political corruption (pp. 3-18). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781351244351-1
- Johnston, M. (2015). Active and sustainable reform constituencies. The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, 617(1), 10-15. https://doi.org/10.1177/0002716215579460
- Johnston, M., & Heywood, P. M. (2015). Toward active and sustainable reform constituencies. In P. M. Heywood & M. Johnston (Eds.), The routine of corruption in Ireland: And how to deal with it (pp. 19-42). University of Toronto Press. https://doi.org/10.3138/9781442671949-003
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- Lyrio, M. (2018). Citizen participation in the control of public actors. Public Integrity, 20(6), 609-626. https://doi.org/10.1080/10999922.2018.1480193
- Margetts, H. (2019). Political transparency and the roles of digital media. In L. Bennett & R. Segerberg (Eds.), The Oxford handbook of digital politics (pp. 297-314). Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199793471.013.015
- Méndez, F., & Simpser, A. (2016). Vertical accountability and the polity. Comparative Political Studies, 49(8), 1055–1085. https://doi.org/10.1177/0010414016630453
- Miceli, M. P., & Near, J. P. (2020). Whistle-blowing: A survey of empirical research. Journal of Business Ethics, 32(4), 385-407. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1005710300247
- Mulgan, R. (2020). Accountability in government and the 21st-century public sector. Governance, 33(1), 1-6. https://doi.org/10.1111/gove.12376
- Persson, T., Roland, G., & Tabellini, G. (2015). Electoral rules and government spending in parliamentary democracies. The Quarterly Journal of Economics, 130(4), 1653–1702. https://doi.org/10.1093/qje/qjv021
- Prichard, W., MacLeod, M., & Boucher, G. (2021). Comparative integrity commissions: An empirical analysis. Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory, 31(1), 3-23. https://doi.org/10.1093/jopart/muz008
- Rose-Ackerman, S. (1999). Corruption and government: Causes, consequences, and reform. Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511803975
- Rothstein, B. (2011). The quality of government: Corruption, social trust, and inequality in international perspective. University of Chicago Press. https://doi.org/10.7208/chicago/9780226729571.001.0001
- Schillemans, T., & Bovens, M. (2011). The challenges of public accountability: A response to recent contributions. Public Management Review, 13(2), 263–283. https://doi.org/10.1080/14719037.2010.482696
- Sieberer, U. (2020). Organized crime, corruption, and democratic accountability. Perspectives on Politics, 18(4), 1020-1037. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1537592720000592
- Smith, R., Marsden, C. T., & McCarthy, D. M. (2021). Blockchain for global supply chain integrity. In D. L. Olson, D. Delen, & E. Batra (Eds.), Decision sciences and technology for effective supply chain management (pp. 235-256). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-67508-1_10
- Svensson, J. (2017). Experimentation in the fight against corruption. The World Bank Research Observer, 32(2), 133-158. https://doi.org/10.1093/wbro/lkx002
- Treisman, D. (2007). What have we learned about the causes of corruption from ten years of cross-national empirical research? Annual Review of Political Science, 10, 211–244. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.polisci.10.081205.095418
- United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. (2004). United Nations Convention against Corruption. https://doi.org/10.18356/891f16b8-en
- Uslaner, E. M. (2008). Corruption, inequality, and the rule of law: The bulging pocket makes the easy life. Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511810171
- Van Rijckeghem, C., & Weder, B. (2001). Bureaucratic corruption and the rate of temptation: Do wages in the civil service affect corruption, and by how much? Journal of Development Economics, 65(2), 307-331. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0304-3878(01)00140-4
- Warren, M. E., Squire, P., & Simpser, A. (2018). Electoral malpractice. Journal of Democracy, 29(2), 90–103. https://doi.org/10.1353/jod.2018.0025
References
Andrews, M., Pritchett, L., & Woolcock, M. (2018). Building state capability: Evidence, analysis, action. Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780198796954.001.0001
Baiocchi, G., Heller, P., & Silva, M. K. (2014). Bootstrapping democracy: Transforming local governance and civil society in Brazil. Stanford University Press. https://doi.org/10.11126/stanford/9780804789619.001.0001
Banfield, E. C. (2019). Corruption as a feature of social organization. In Corruption in America: From Benjamin Franklin's snuff box to Citizens United (pp. 11-23). Harvard University Press. https://doi.org/10.4159/9780674976709-002
Bauhr, M., & Grimes, M. (2014). Indignation or resignation: The implications of transparency for societal accountability. Governance, 27(2), 291–320. https://doi.org/10.1111/gove.12066
Besley, T., & Burgess, R. (2002). The political economy of government responsiveness: Theory and evidence from India. The Quarterly Journal of Economics, 117(4), 1415–1451. https://doi.org/10.1162/003355302320935025
Brusca, I. (2018). Transparency, budgetary management, and audit systems. Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory, 28(4), 519-533. https://doi.org/10.1093/jopart/muy002
Chêne, M., & Domingo, P. (2020). The implementation of participatory budgeting: Lessons from participatory processes in Europe. Palgrave Macmillan. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-27523-3
Davis, K. E., & Törő, C. (2018). Globalization and governance: Introduction to the special issue. Governance, 31(4), 607–612. https://doi.org/10.1111/gove.12365
Davis, K. E., & Törő, C. (2018). Globalization and governance: Introduction to the special issue. Governance, 31(4), 607-612. https://doi.org/10.1111/gove.12365
Djankov, S., McLiesh, C., & Nenova, T. (2008). Whose bribes are more? Journal of Public Economics, 92(12), 2067–2081. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpubeco.2008.03.001
Evans, P., & Rauch, J. E. (2021). Bureaucratic corruption, interconnected markets, and anti-corruption policy. In M. Hafner-Burton & T. Victor (Eds.), Politics, power, and pathways: The quest for sustainable energy (pp. 97-120). Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108764809.005
Fox, J., & Gurin, D. (2019). Transparency and accountability initiatives. In M. E. Hawkesworth & L. O. Kruke (Eds.), The Oxford handbook of political science (pp. 429-450). Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780190228217.013.21
Grindle, M. S. (2017). Public authority in crisis: Authority without credibility, credibility without authority. Governance, 30(1), 165-175. https://doi.org/10.1111/gove.12247
Heywood, P. M. (2021). Understanding political corruption. In P. Heywood & J. Johnson (Eds.), The Routledge handbook of political corruption (pp. 3-18). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781351244351-1
Johnston, M. (2015). Active and sustainable reform constituencies. The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, 617(1), 10-15. https://doi.org/10.1177/0002716215579460
Johnston, M., & Heywood, P. M. (2015). Toward active and sustainable reform constituencies. In P. M. Heywood & M. Johnston (Eds.), The routine of corruption in Ireland: And how to deal with it (pp. 19-42). University of Toronto Press. https://doi.org/10.3138/9781442671949-003
Lindstedt, C. (2006). Education, free press, and free and fair elections. Crime, Law and Social Change, 45(1), 51-65. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10611-006-9026-0
Lyrio, M. (2018). Citizen participation in the control of public actors. Public Integrity, 20(6), 609-626. https://doi.org/10.1080/10999922.2018.1480193
Margetts, H. (2019). Political transparency and the roles of digital media. In L. Bennett & R. Segerberg (Eds.), The Oxford handbook of digital politics (pp. 297-314). Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199793471.013.015
Méndez, F., & Simpser, A. (2016). Vertical accountability and the polity. Comparative Political Studies, 49(8), 1055–1085. https://doi.org/10.1177/0010414016630453
Miceli, M. P., & Near, J. P. (2020). Whistle-blowing: A survey of empirical research. Journal of Business Ethics, 32(4), 385-407. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1005710300247
Mulgan, R. (2020). Accountability in government and the 21st-century public sector. Governance, 33(1), 1-6. https://doi.org/10.1111/gove.12376
Persson, T., Roland, G., & Tabellini, G. (2015). Electoral rules and government spending in parliamentary democracies. The Quarterly Journal of Economics, 130(4), 1653–1702. https://doi.org/10.1093/qje/qjv021
Prichard, W., MacLeod, M., & Boucher, G. (2021). Comparative integrity commissions: An empirical analysis. Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory, 31(1), 3-23. https://doi.org/10.1093/jopart/muz008
Rose-Ackerman, S. (1999). Corruption and government: Causes, consequences, and reform. Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511803975
Rothstein, B. (2011). The quality of government: Corruption, social trust, and inequality in international perspective. University of Chicago Press. https://doi.org/10.7208/chicago/9780226729571.001.0001
Schillemans, T., & Bovens, M. (2011). The challenges of public accountability: A response to recent contributions. Public Management Review, 13(2), 263–283. https://doi.org/10.1080/14719037.2010.482696
Sieberer, U. (2020). Organized crime, corruption, and democratic accountability. Perspectives on Politics, 18(4), 1020-1037. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1537592720000592
Smith, R., Marsden, C. T., & McCarthy, D. M. (2021). Blockchain for global supply chain integrity. In D. L. Olson, D. Delen, & E. Batra (Eds.), Decision sciences and technology for effective supply chain management (pp. 235-256). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-67508-1_10
Svensson, J. (2017). Experimentation in the fight against corruption. The World Bank Research Observer, 32(2), 133-158. https://doi.org/10.1093/wbro/lkx002
Treisman, D. (2007). What have we learned about the causes of corruption from ten years of cross-national empirical research? Annual Review of Political Science, 10, 211–244. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.polisci.10.081205.095418
United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. (2004). United Nations Convention against Corruption. https://doi.org/10.18356/891f16b8-en
Uslaner, E. M. (2008). Corruption, inequality, and the rule of law: The bulging pocket makes the easy life. Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511810171
Van Rijckeghem, C., & Weder, B. (2001). Bureaucratic corruption and the rate of temptation: Do wages in the civil service affect corruption, and by how much? Journal of Development Economics, 65(2), 307-331. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0304-3878(01)00140-4
Warren, M. E., Squire, P., & Simpser, A. (2018). Electoral malpractice. Journal of Democracy, 29(2), 90–103. https://doi.org/10.1353/jod.2018.0025