The dynamical structure of political corruption networks

Autor(es)

Ribeiro, V, Haroldo ; Alves, Luiz G. A. ^[1] ; Martins, Alvaro F. ^[2] ; Lenzi, Ervin K. ^[3] ; Perc, Matjaz ^{[4, 5, 6]}

Afiliação do(s) autor(es)

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Inst Math & Comp Sci, Av Trabalhador Sao Carlense 400, BR-13566590 Sao Carlos, SP - Brazil

^[2] Ribeiro, Haroldo, V, Univ Estadual Maringa, Dept Fis, Av Colombo 5790, BR-87020900 Maringa, Parana - Brazil

^[3] Univ Estadual Ponta Grossa, Dept Fis, Av Gen Carlos Cavalcanti 4748, BR-84030900 Ponta Grossa, PR - Brazil

^[4] Univ Maribor, Fac Nat Sci & Math, Koroska Cesta 160, SI-2000 Maribor - Slovenia

^[5] Complex Sci Hub, Josefstadterstr 39, A-1080 Vienna - Austria

^[6] Univ Maribor, CAMTP, Mladinska 3, SI-2000 Maribor - Slovenia

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: JOURNAL OF COMPLEX NETWORKS; v. 6, n. 6, p. 989-1003, DEC 2018.
• Citações Web of Science: 9

Resumo

Corruptive behaviour in politics limits economic growth, embezzles public funds and promotes socioeconomic inequality in modern democracies. We analyse well-documented political corruption scandals in Brazil over the past 27 years, focusing on the dynamical structure of networks where two individuals are connected if they were involved in the same scandal. Our research reveals that corruption runs in small groups that rarely comprise more than eight people, in networks that have hubs and a modular structure that encompasses more than one corruption scandal. We observe abrupt changes in the size of the largest connected component and in the degree distribution, which are due to the coalescence of different modules when new scandals come to light or when governments change. We show further that the dynamical structure of political corruption networks can be used for successfully predicting partners in future scandals. We discuss the important role of network science in detecting and mitigating political corruption. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 16/16987-7 - Uma abordagem de sistemas complexos para desenvolvimento e planejamento urbano
• Beneficiário: Luiz Gustavo de Andrade Alves
• Modalidade de apoio: Bolsas no Brasil - Pós-Doutorado