Informality and Corruption Perceptions in Russia's Regions: Exploring the Effects of Gubernatorial Turnover in Patronal Regimes

In: Russian politics, Band 3, Heft 2, S. 216-238

Abstract

This study uses the 2011 BEEPS survey for the Russian Federation to study factors influencing corruption perceptions in Russian regions. Specifically, the analysis relies on Henry Hale's theory of patronal presidentialism to explore the effects of the institutional environment and, particularly, of regional political uncertainty, on the perceptions of economic actors embedded in it. The analysis reveals that political instability – when measured by the recent political turnover in the region and the presence of regional inter-elite conflicts – works to increase corruption perceptions among economic actors. These findings support earlier literature on the importance of informal rules and 'insider entrepreneurship' in Russia.