We show that isolated capital cities are robustly associated with greater levels of corruption across US states, in line with the view that this isolation reduces accountability. We then provide direct evidence that the spatial distribution of population relative to the capital affects different accountability mechanisms: newspapers cover state politics more when readers are closer to the capital,voters who live far from the capital are less knowledgeable and interested in state politics, and they turn out less in state elections. We also find that isolated capitals are associated with more money in state-level campaigns, and worse public good provision. (JEL D72, D73, H41, H83, K42, R23)

• Are isolated capital cities worse? Marginal Revolution, 2012-08-28 00:00:00
• Are isolated capital cities worse? Marginal Revolution, 2012-08-28 00:00:00
• Congratulations, New York, You’re #1 in Corruption Politico, 2015-05-05 00:00:00
• Does State Capital Isolation Boost Corruption? NY Daily News, 2012-05-18 00:00:00
• Here’s why remote state capitals are often more corrupt Washington Post (Wonkblog), 2013-05-16 00:00:00
• Here’s why remote state capitals are often more corrupt Washington Post (wonkblog), 2013-05-26 00:00:00
• How the Location of State Capitals Influences Political Corruption CityLab, 2013-05-20 00:00:00
• Isolated State Capitals Are More Corrupt Monkey Cage, 2012-05-18 00:00:00
• Naypyidaw-on-Hudson: Isolated capitals are more corrupt Foreign Policy, 2013-05-13 00:00:00
• Researchers Find Link Between Isolated State Capitals, Corruption NPR, 2012-05-24 00:00:00
• Yes, the Economy Helped Elect Trump New York Times, 2018-05-08 00:00:00
• Why House of Cards Really Should’ve Been Set in Missouri GQ, 2015-05-19 00:00:00
• What if Springfield was the state capital? Boston Globe, 2015-03-27 00:00:00
• What A State Capital’s Location Can Say About Corruption NPR (audio segment), 2013-07-30 00:00:00
• This explains Albany Boston Globe, 2013-05-26 00:00:00
• Study Ties Albany’s Distance From Voters to Its Corruption New York Times, 2012-05-31 00:00:00
• Study shows isolation may lead to corrupt state capitals LA Times, 2012-05-23 00:00:00