The Influence of Elections on Compliance with World Bank Conditionality and IMF Program Interruptions

Using panel data, this paper tries to explain compliance with World Bank conditionality as well as interruptions of IMF programs around election dates in the recipient countries. Compliance with World Bank conditionality is lower in election years and pre-election years. Using a proxy for IMF program interruptions it is shown that breakdowns are less likely in election years. However, no other political factors seem to influence interruptions and compliance systematically. The paper concludes with implications for reform.