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