Work

Online Local Budget Transparency and Local Elections in Croatia

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: ABSTRACT This study empirically analyses the impact of online local budget transparency (OLBT) on the electoral performance of city mayors and municipal heads who sought re‐election in Croatia's local elections in 2017 and 2021. Based on the literature on political budget cycles (PBC) and voting behavior, the study tests two main hypotheses: (1) that budget transparency is rewarded by voters; and (2) that it diminishes the electoral benefits of opportunistic pre‐election increases in expenditures. These hypotheses are examined using fixed‐effects panel models applied to data from up to all 556 Croatian cities and municipalities where incumbents ran for re‐election. The dependent variable is the vote share received by the incumbent in the first round of the local elections. The empirical results provide support for both hypotheses.

Source: Economics and Politics

DOI: 10.1111/ecpo.70019

Authors: Francisco J. Veiga, Marija Opačak Eror, Simona Prijaković

Institutions: University of Minho, Institute of Public Finance

Language: English

Topic: Fiscal Policies and Political Economy

Subfield: Economics and Econometrics

Field: Economics, Econometrics and Finance

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Peace, justice, and strong institutions

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,240