Impartiality and Corruption in Sweden

Abstract

This paper presents data on corruption and impartiality from a unique survey with local politicians in Sweden, which includes answers from about 78 percent of the 13 361 politicians active in the 290 Swedish municipalities. On the basis of a number of questions related to impartiality and corruption, and after checking for respondent perception bias, we construct three indices: one bri-bery index, one partiality index and one recruitment index. The paper also assesses the external validity of these indices, using previous surveys, crime statistics and media reports on corruption. Our main conclusion after these analyses is that the indices hold water, and thus that it is worthwhile to include them in future, more explanatory studies on both causes and consequences of corruption and impartiality in Sweden.