The supply of politicians affects the quality of democratic institutions. Yet, the role of individual economic shocks for political selection is largely understudied. This paper investigates how experiencing a job loss affects individuals’ decision to enter politics. Using administrative data on the universe of formally employed individuals, local political candidates, and party affiliates in...
We use the universe of Nepali voter registration records to examine how social networks shape local-level elections. Using information on individual-level kinship ties among 13.9 million registered voters in 2017, we show how connectedness of individuals to other registered voters and politicians matters for selection into politics. We first establish that political candidates chosen by their...
To what extent can audits serve to limit patronage and corrupt networks effectively and sustainably in clientelist societies with a prevailing norm of corruption? We develop a political agency model in which office holders are motivated to reduce rent seeking behavior through re-election incentives operating via elections and audits (formal institutions), but also through reputational concerns...
