Examining a model of vertical accountability: A cross-national study of the influence of information access on the control of corruption

This cross-national study used a vertical accountability model to examine the extent to which four societal and four political indicators would influence perception of public corruption in 150 countries. The model appeared strong, given the significant inverse correlation of corruption perception with access-to-information legislation, media rights, cellular phone use, internet subscriptions, electoral pluralism, political participation, political culture, and length of time of the political regime. The study found that low news media rights, low internet and cellular phone use, short duration of the polity, and weak political culture were significant explanatory indicators for corruption. However, the presence of access-to-information legislation, or a draft of the law, did not impact corruption.

► Model tests societal and political information-access indicators for influence on corruption perception indicator.
► News media rights, communication technology, political culture, and polity duration influenced corruption perception.
► Presence of access-to-information legislation did not influence the corruption perception indicator.