Peda
2014-07-26 02:40:01 UTC
New research takes a look at decades of corruption convictions
to find the crookedest states in the union.
When we think of government corruption (as one tends to do),
our biased minds often gravitate to thoughts of military juntas
and third world governments. But, of course, corruption is
everywhere, in one form or another. And its costing U.S.
citizens big time.
A new study from researchers at the University of Hong Kong and
Indiana University estimates that corruption on the state level
is costing Americans in the 10 most corrupt states an average of
$1,308 per year, or 5.2% of those states average expenditures
per year.
The researchers studied more than 25,000 convictions of public
officials for violation of federal corruption laws between 1976
and 2008 as well as patterns in state spending to develop a
corruption index that estimates the most and least corrupt
states in the union. Based on this method, the the most corrupt
states are:
1. Mississippi
2. Louisiana
3. Tennessee
4. Illinois
5. Pennsylvania
6. Alabama
7. Alaska
8. South Dakota
9. Kentucky
10. Florida
That these places landed on the list isnt exactly surprising.
Illinois, which has gain notoriety for its high-profile
corruption cases in recent years, is paired with states like
Mississippi and Louisiana, which are some of the least
economically developed in the country. The researchers also
found that for 9 out of the 10 of the most corrupt states,
overall state spending was higher than in less corrupt states
(South Dakota was the only exception). Attacking corruption, the
researchers argue, could be a good way to bring down state
spending without hurting services that people need.
Researchers also found that spending in these states was
different than their less corrupt counterparts. According to the
report, states with higher levels of corruption are likely to
favor construction, salaries, borrowing, correction, and police
protection at the expense of social sectors such as education,
health and hospitals.
http://fortune.com/2014/06/10/most-corrupt-states-in-
america/?xid=ob_rss
to find the crookedest states in the union.
When we think of government corruption (as one tends to do),
our biased minds often gravitate to thoughts of military juntas
and third world governments. But, of course, corruption is
everywhere, in one form or another. And its costing U.S.
citizens big time.
A new study from researchers at the University of Hong Kong and
Indiana University estimates that corruption on the state level
is costing Americans in the 10 most corrupt states an average of
$1,308 per year, or 5.2% of those states average expenditures
per year.
The researchers studied more than 25,000 convictions of public
officials for violation of federal corruption laws between 1976
and 2008 as well as patterns in state spending to develop a
corruption index that estimates the most and least corrupt
states in the union. Based on this method, the the most corrupt
states are:
1. Mississippi
2. Louisiana
3. Tennessee
4. Illinois
5. Pennsylvania
6. Alabama
7. Alaska
8. South Dakota
9. Kentucky
10. Florida
That these places landed on the list isnt exactly surprising.
Illinois, which has gain notoriety for its high-profile
corruption cases in recent years, is paired with states like
Mississippi and Louisiana, which are some of the least
economically developed in the country. The researchers also
found that for 9 out of the 10 of the most corrupt states,
overall state spending was higher than in less corrupt states
(South Dakota was the only exception). Attacking corruption, the
researchers argue, could be a good way to bring down state
spending without hurting services that people need.
Researchers also found that spending in these states was
different than their less corrupt counterparts. According to the
report, states with higher levels of corruption are likely to
favor construction, salaries, borrowing, correction, and police
protection at the expense of social sectors such as education,
health and hospitals.
http://fortune.com/2014/06/10/most-corrupt-states-in-
america/?xid=ob_rss