Navigating Corruption: Assessing the Impact of Corruption on Transport Infrastructure Quality in 130 Countries (2006–2019)

This study investigates the impact of corruption on transport infrastructure quality using a global country-year panel dataset from 2006 to 2019, encompassing approximately 130 countries. The analysis employs a fixed-effects regression model to examine the relationship between corruption, measured by the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), and the quality of road, railway, port, and air transport infrastructure, assessed through a standardized index. The results reveal a significant negative correlation between corruption and transport infrastructure quality across all transport modes. Higher levels of corruption correspond to a marked decline in infrastructure quality, particularly in developing countries and regions with weak governance structures. This effect persists even when alternative measures of corruption and robust estimation techniques are applied. The study underscores the critical need for effective anticorruption policies to safeguard infrastructure investments and ensure sustainable development. By highlighting the detrimental effects of corruption, the findings offer valuable insights for policymakers aiming to enhance the quality of national transport infrastructure. The study's limitations, including potential bias due to unbalanced panels and the exclusion of certain countries, suggest that future research should further explore this relationship in different contexts.