Corrupted Courts: A Cross-National Perceptual Analysis of Judicial Corruption

Abstract

This thesis examines the factors that influence the perceptions of judicial corruption. A statistical analysis using data from such sources as Transparency International, the World Bank, and Freedom House demonstrates that aspects of accountability (the ability to remove judges) and transparency (freedom of the press) are only weakly related to perceptions of judicial corruption. A systematic country comparison shows that the structure of the judicial system explains variations in perceived judicial corruption.