Buying a Blind Eye: Campaign Donations, Forbearance, and Deforestation in Colombia

While existing work has demonstrated that campaign donations can buy access to benefits such as favorable legislation and preferential contracting, we highlight another use of contributions: buying forbearance. Specifically, argue in return for contributions, Colombian mayors who rely on donor-funding (compared those do not) choose not enforce sanctions against illegal deforestation activities. Using a regression discontinuity design show is significantly higher municipalities elect donor-funded opposed self-funded politicians. Further analysis shows only part this effect be explained by differences contracting practices mayors. Instead, evidence from fire clearance, heterogeneity the effects according presence alternative formal informal enforcement institutions, supports interpretation contributions forbearance environmental regulations.