Corruption Kills: Global Evidence From Natural Disasters

ABSTRACT This study examines the relationship between corruption and natural disaster‐related fatalities using panel data from 135 countries spanning the period 1980 to 2020. The empirical analysis reveals robust evidence that elevated levels of corruption in developing countries are significantly associated with disproportionately high fatality rates from natural disasters. These outcomes are indicative of systemic weaknesses in infrastructure, risk management, and emergency response mechanisms. By controlling for a comprehensive set of economic, demographic, healthcare, and institutional variables, the study offers a clearer understanding of how governance quality shapes disaster outcomes. Importantly, the analysis identifies nonlinear effects, wherein the adverse impact of corruption on disaster mortality intensifies at higher levels of corruption. These findings underscore the critical importance of institutional integrity and effective governance in mitigating the human toll of natural disasters, especially in low‐ and middle‐income countries.