Political Economy of Accountability in a Resource-Rich Region: A Case Study of Bojonegoro

Abstract: This study investigates the emergence of accountability in a natural resource-rich regency in Indonesia namely Bojonegoro. While it is widely acknowledged that natural resource-abundance tends to be associated with predatory states, Bojonegoro has able to promote accountability and achieve a high level of economic growth in the last five years. This paper thus attempts to analyze the incentives that influence the local elites' decision to promote accountability in Bojonegoro. Using theory of New Political Economy Perspective (NPEP) as the theoretical framework, the study finds that electoral system and collective actions in Bojonegoro, rule of law at the national level and political promotion within the political party drive politicians to promote accountability in Bojonegoro. To my knowledge, this is the first study that discusses the emergence of accountability in resource-rich areas at the sub-national level. Therefore, this thesis advances the knowledge of resource curse theoretically and empirically.