On the Confluence of Freedom of the Press, Control of Corruption and Societal Welfare

Abstract

This paper employs data from 135 countries to investigate the role a free press plays in controlling corruption and the extent to which this may lead to greater national income and enhanced societal welfare (as measured by self-reported life satisfaction). Results suggest that freedom of the press, through enabling the control of corruption, is associated with increased real GDP per capita and (independently) higher life satisfaction. This provides further motivation for policy makers to give greater recognition to the aspects of societal welfare not readily encapsulated within conventional measures of national income.