Assessing the Impact of Anti-Corruption Reforms on Education Outcomes (SDG 4)

• In Event: Corruption, Compliance, and the Politics of Accountability

Abstract

The study "Assessing the Impact of Anti-Corruption Reforms on Education Outcomes (SDG 4): A Synthetic Control Analysis of Brazil, Kenya, and Rwanda" explores the causal relationship between anti-corruption reforms and education performance. While existing literature establishes a negative correlation between corruption and education quality, there is a lack of rigorous causal analysis on whether anti-corruption reforms lead to measurable improvements in school enrollment, literacy rates, and education spending efficiency. To address this gap, the study employs the Synthetic Control Method (SCM), a quasi-experimental approach that constructs counterfactual scenarios to assess the impact of anti-corruption reforms in Brazil (Operation Lava Jato), Kenya (2019 anti-corruption initiatives), and Rwanda (post-2000 governance reforms), using Denmark as a benchmark. By comparing education trends in these countries before and after reforms against synthetic control groups, the study aims to provide empirical evidence on whether reducing corruption enhances education outcomes. The findings will contribute to policy discussions on the role of governance in achieving Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4) and inform strategies for improving education systems in developing countries through anti-corruption measures.

Author

• Eduardo Carvalho Nepomuceno Alencar, University of California, Irvine