Corruption, growth and ethnic fractionalization: a theoretical model

Cerqueti RoyCoppier RaffaellaPiga Gustavo
CEIS Research Paper
This paper analyzes the existing relationship between ethnic fractionalization, corruption and the growth rate of a country. We provide a simple theoretical model. We show that a nonlinear relationship between fractionalization and corruption exists: corruption is high in homogeneous or very fragmented countries, but low where fractionalization is intermediate. In fact, when ethnic diversity is intermediate, constituencies act as a check and balance device to limit ethnically-based corruption. Consequently, the relationship between fractionalization and growth rate is also non-linear: growth is high in the middle range of ethnic diversity, low in homogeneous or very fragmented countries.
Number: 216
Keywords: corruption, ethnic fractionalization, monitoring cost, economic growth.
JEL codes: D73, K42, O43
Date: Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Revision Date: Tuesday, November 8, 2011