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Both Sides of the Coin: Motives for Corruption Among Public Officials and Business Employees

Author

Listed:
  • Madelijne Gorsira

    (VU University (Amsterdam))

  • Adriaan Denkers

    (VU University (Amsterdam))

  • Wim Huisman

    (VU University (Amsterdam))

Abstract

The aim of this study is to better understand why public officials and business employees engage in corruption. Insight into individual-level explanations for corruption was obtained with the aid of a self-report survey. The results suggest that the most indicative factors of whether or not individuals are corruption-prone are as follows: the moral conviction they have to refrain from corruption; perceptions of whether their colleagues approve of and engage in corruption; and difficulties experienced in complying with the rules on corruption. This result pattern was identical for public officials and business employees alike, and as a consequence, for both sides of corrupt acts. The latter indicates that the same motives may not only underlie corruption in both private and public sectors, but also the act of corruption in its active and passive forms. The results of the current study do not provide strong support for the assumption that economic considerations—expected costs and benefits—are crucial in predicting corruption. Based on the findings that norms and the perceived opportunity to comply are dominant factors in explaining corruption, this article focuses on the practical implications for the development of anti-corruption strategies within both public and private sectors.

Suggested Citation

  • Madelijne Gorsira & Adriaan Denkers & Wim Huisman, 2018. "Both Sides of the Coin: Motives for Corruption Among Public Officials and Business Employees," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 151(1), pages 179-194, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jbuset:v:151:y:2018:i:1:d:10.1007_s10551-016-3219-2
    DOI: 10.1007/s10551-016-3219-2
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    9. Mushtaq Hussain Khan & Mohammad Bitar & Amine Tarazi & Arshad Hassan & Ahmad Fraz, 2021. "Corruption and bank risk-taking: The deterring role of Shari'ah supervision," Working Papers hal-03366460, HAL.
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    12. Andris Zimelis, 2020. "Corruption research: A need for an integrated approach," International Area Studies Review, Center for International Area Studies, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, vol. 23(3), pages 288-306, September.
    13. Michael A. Sartor & Paul W. Beamish, 2020. "Private Sector Corruption, Public Sector Corruption and the Organizational Structure of Foreign Subsidiaries," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 167(4), pages 725-744, December.
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    16. Carmen Tanner & Stefan Linder & Matthias Sohn, 2022. "Does moral commitment predict resistance to corruption? experimental evidence from a bribery game," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 17(1), pages 1-22, January.
    17. Tolu Olarewaju & Jagannadha Pawan Tamvada & Sharin McDowall, 2021. "Generalised Trust and Relation Centrism for Corruption: Evidence from Low- and Middle-Income Countries," Discussion Papers 21-01, Department of Economics, University of Birmingham.

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