Internet Diffusion and Government Corruption in Latin America and Sub-Saharan Africa Completed Research Paper

In this paper we examine relationships among Internet diffusion, voice and accountability, and government corruption based on data from Latin American and Sub-Saharan African countries. Our study suggests that greater levels of Internet diffusion are associated with greater levels of voice and accountability, and that greater levels of voice and accountability are associated with lower levels of government corruption. Also, there seems to be an overall relationship between Internet diffusion and government corruption, which is primarily indirect and mediated by voice and accountability. Our results also suggest that, for each additional 15 Internet users per 100 inhabitants in a country in these regions, there is approximately a 35 percent decrease in government corruption, mediated by an increase in voice and accountability.