HSE/NESresearch seminar on political economy. Topic: ‘ Does Political Competition Matter for Public Goods Provision? Evidence from Russian Regions ’

On Tuesday, March 26, 2013, the Higher School of Economics/New Economic School research seminar will take place at the HSE. Olga Vasylieva (Amur State University) will speak on‘Does Political Competition Matter for Public Goods Provision? Evidence from Russian Regions’.

Abstract:

Does political competition always improve public goods provision under autocracy? Which accountability mechanisms give better results? Using panel data covering 74 Russian regions for 2004-2009 we study how the intensity of local political competition affects governors' willingness to provide public goods. When there is competition in the local legislature, governors appointed by the national government provide more public goods than locally connected officials who divert more funds for themselves. But when the party has a near monopoly of political power, governors from the region feel relatively more pressure from the local population and provide more public goods than new governors appointed by the central state who are not tied to local networks.

Moreover, we find evidence of a non-monotonic relationship between the intensity of political competition, the efficiency of accountability mechanisms, and some measures of public goods. 

Start time: 6:15 pm

Everyone interested is welcome to attend!

Address: The HSE building at Shabolovka (ul. Shabolovka 26-4, room 4322).

If you don't have a HSE picture ID, please contact political.economy.hse@gmail.com to order a pass for the seminar before 12:00, Tuesday March 26.

See the web-page of the seminar.