Accountability from Within: Politically Insulated Bureaucrats and Incumbent Rent-Seeking

A growing literature shows that elections are a poor mechanism to hold corrupt incumbents accountable. In that context, can institutional checks and balances compensate for the shortcomings of elections in fighting corruption? This paper examines a possible source of institutional accountability: the presence of politically insulated civil servants with oversight authority over the actions of incumbents. I examine the effect of politically insulated bureaucrats on a type of incumbent rent-seeking: the use of political budget cycles.

After Italy’s general election

A discussion of the results of the March 4th election and the potential consequences for Italy and for the European Union.

The seminar will be introduced by Bill Emmott, Visiting Fellow at All Souls, author of “Good Italy, Bad Italy” (2012) and co-author of the documentary “Girlfriend in a Coma” (2013), who will then moderate a discussion among the panel.

DVDs of “Girlfriend in a Coma” will be available free of charge for all attendees.

Rival Power: Russia and South East Europe

A nuanced and comprehensive study of the political dynamics between Russia and key countries in Southeast Europe.
Is Russia threatening to disrupt more than two decades’ of E.U. and U.S. efforts to promote stability in post-communist Southeast Europe? Politicians and commentators in the West say, “yes.” With rising global anxiety over Russia’s political policies and objectives, Dimitar Bechev provides the only in-depth look at this volatile region.
 
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