Readability versus obfuscation to fight corruption: evidence from Italian local governments

IMPACT: This article explains why regulators should be guiding local governments (LGs) to use easy-to-understand language in their reports to truthfully communicate information about anti-corruption risks. Managers should avoid obfuscation of information that hides bad practices at LGs in terms of fighting corruption and pay closer attention to the readability of their text. This article will benefit policy-makers interested in overcoming previously neglected concerns for readability as a means of enhancing the effectiveness of the anti-corruption plans (ACPs) published by LGs.