Climate, diseases, and the origins of corruption

Economics of Transition and Institutional Change, 2021, vol. 29, issue 4, 621-649

Abstract: It has been commonly observed that tropical countries tend to suffer from intense corruption and underdevelopment. This study provides an explanation for this long‐standing disparity across the world based on variation in the intensity of ultraviolet radiation (UV‐R). The central hypothesis is that UV‐R is positively associated with the (historical) prevalence of eye diseases, which significantly shortens work‐life expectancy as a skilled worker. This helps shape the worldwide distribution of corruption by affecting the incumbents' window of opportunity. Using data for up to 139 countries, I consistently find empirical support for the positive relationship between UV‐R and corruption. The main findings withstand accounting for numerous alternative explanations for international differences in corruption levels. Employing individual‐level data from the World Values Survey, I document suggestive evidence that exposure to UV‐R is linked to surveyed respondents' tolerance towards corrupt activities. Furthermore, a subnational analysis for China lends credence to the cross‐country evidence.

Date: 2021
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https://doi.org/10.1111/ecot.12293

Related works:
Working Paper: Climate, diseases, and the origins of corruption (2021)
Working Paper: Climate, Diseases, and the Origins of Corruption (2020)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:wly:ectrin:v:29:y:2021:i:4:p:621-649

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