It Takes a Village Election

Industry Overview - The study focuses on the impact of leadership turnover in local bureaucracies, particularly in Indonesian villages, and its effects on bureaucratic performance and public service provision [1][2] - The research highlights the role of village elections in disrupting nepotistic networks and improving governance at the grassroots level [2][5] Key Findings - Leadership turnover in village elections leads to a revitalization of local bureaucracies, with new leaders appointing more officials, engaging in promotions and demotions, and setting higher salaries [8][34] - Turnover reduces the prevalence of nepotistic networks, with new leaders less likely to employ relatives or bureaucrats with family connections to previous administrations [36][37] - Bureaucrats under new leadership report higher morale and motivation, leading to increased interactions with citizens and better alignment with their needs [40][42] - Electoral turnovers improve the quality of public service provision, particularly in locally managed services such as garbage collection and street lighting [49][50] Mechanisms and Implications - The positive effects of turnover on bureaucratic performance are driven by the disruption of nepotistic networks, which allows for more meritocratic governance and improved service delivery [60][61] - Newly elected leaders who successfully reduce nepotism achieve the most substantial improvements in bureaucratic performance and public goods provision [59][60] - The study suggests that regular, free, and fair elections are crucial for ensuring accountability and improving governance at the local level [68] Data and Methodology - The analysis is based on a large-scale survey conducted in 852 villages across Indonesia, combined with administrative data on public goods provision [6][19] - The study employs a regression discontinuity design (RDD) to estimate the causal effects of electoral turnovers on bureaucratic performance and public service provision [24][25]