How do press freedom & democracy impact controllig corruption?

Abstract

This research studies the combined effects of democracy and press freedom on corruption. In the study, we seek to understand if democracy and freedom of the press act separately or together to curb corruption. Exploiting various empirical strategies, we investigated to explain it takes the joint impacts of democracy and freedom of the media to reduce the incidence of graft. The work goes deeper to seek to understand the causes and consequences of corruption in Africa and offers policy recommendations in line with the investigation. Using a 17-year panel data and exploiting numerous empirical methodologies, the research shows it takes a combination of a nation having democratic institutions that allow journalists to operate freely without political and monetary pressures to have effects on controlling corruption. While corruption on the continent is an African problem, due to its international dimensions and the complex involvement of foreign actors, the study highlights it would require effective governance and cooperative cross-national efforts to curtail the rampant graft in Africa.