Political Dynasties and Human Development Investments: Evidence of Linkage from Rizal Province, Philippines

Abstract

This study is a preliminary empirical investigation to test whether dynastic mayors tend to have lower human development investments for their constituents. It inferred from a panel data composed of all 13 municipalities in Rizal, Philippines. Data in years 2001-2017 were drawn from these municipalities, dichotomized into dynastic or non-dynastic. Dynasties in this study are characterized as fat dynasties, consisting of elected public officials occupying political seats simultaneously with their relatives. Based on the results of panel-corrected Prais-Winsten generalized least squares estimation, this research found that Rizal municipal governments led by fat dynastic mayors tend to have significantly lower human development investments compared with non-dynastic counterparts. Specifically, they spent less on human development at the aggregate level (i.e., total municipal expenditure on health, education, and social welfare), at the combined levels of education and health, and at the specific sector of education. These findings support the predatory view of political dynasties, particularly the fat type. Results are robust to various alternative model specifications and econometric estimation procedures.