Insulated by Clientelism: Economic Accountability and Limits of Electoral Sanctioning in Latin America

This study examines how clientelism affects electoral accountability in Latin America. Using data from nearly 700 competitive elections across 14 countries between 1985 and 2020, it tests whether voters’ choices are shaped by retrospective evaluations of economic performance and whether clientelist linkages alter this relationship. The findings obtained from a series of mixed-effects linear models indicate that while economic voting is present in the region, its effect is significantly weakened by parties' reliance on vote-buying practices. Incumbent parties that rely more heavily on clientelist linkages not only shield themselves from electoral punishment following poor economic management but also achieve stronger electoral outcomes overall. These results are consistent with other findings from outside the region and suggest that non-programmatic linkages undermine accountability by reducing voters’ capacity or willingness to sanction incumbents.