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Corruption and firm performance: Evidence from Greek firms

Author

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  • Daphne Athanasouli
  • Antoine Goujard
  • Pantelis Sklias

    (Department of Political Science and International Relations, University of Peloponnese, Greece)

Abstract

This article investigates the relationship between corruption and firm performance in Greece using firm level data. Corruption is overall negatively associated with firm size and growth at the firm level. We focus on the effect of ‘administrative corruption’, whereby firms engage in corrupt practices and bribery of government officials. We contrast the firm experience of corruption and the contextual experience of corruption at the sectoral level and find that the latter, contextual corruption is more important. The contextual effect of corruption identifies the magnitude of systemic corruption in Greece, indicating the need for reforms in an institutional environment that allows corrupt practices. Furthermore, firms of different size appear differently affected by corruption. This suggests that firm engagement in corruption is heterogeneous. Using quantile regressions, small and medium firms display a higher engagement in corrupt practices. However, their performance is less correlated with corruption than that of large firms.

Suggested Citation

  • Daphne Athanasouli & Antoine Goujard & Pantelis Sklias, 2012. "Corruption and firm performance: Evidence from Greek firms," International Journal of Business and Economic Sciences Applied Research (IJBESAR), International Hellenic University (IHU), Kavala Campus, Greece (formerly Eastern Macedonia and Thrace Institute of Technology - EMaTTech), vol. 5(2), pages 43-67, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:tei:journl:v:5:y:2012:i:2:p:43-67
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Yanos Zylberberg & Francesco Pappada, 2014. "Austerity plans and tax evasion : theory and evidence from Greece," 2014 Meeting Papers 1031, Society for Economic Dynamics.
    3. Vu Thi Hong Nhung & Nguyen Thi Hong Huong, 2022. "Overview of bribery giving behaviors: Determinants and influence on firm performance," HO CHI MINH CITY OPEN UNIVERSITY JOURNAL OF SCIENCE - ECONOMICS AND BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION, HO CHI MINH CITY OPEN UNIVERSITY JOURNAL OF SCIENCE, HO CHI MINH CITY OPEN UNIVERSITY, vol. 12(1), pages 84-91.
    4. Kwamena Minta Nyarku & Stephen Oduro, 2017. "Examining the Effect of Corruption and Bureaucracy on SMEs Growth in the Kumasi Metropolis of Ghana," Proceedings Paper, in: Munyoki, Justus & Bode, Jürgen (ed.), Universities, Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Development in Africa - Conference Proceedings 2017, volume 6, pages 154-173, Universities Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Development in Africa International Conference.
    5. Lee, Mina & Mutlu, Canan & Lee, Seung-Hyun, 2023. "Bribery and Firm Growth: Sensemaking in CEE and Post-Soviet Countries," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 29(1).
    6. Adamu Jibir & Musa Abdu & Farida Bello & Iliya Garba, 2019. "Do Institutions Promote Firm Performance? Evidence from Sub-Saharan Africa," Review of Market Integration, India Development Foundation, vol. 11(3), pages 111-137, December.
    7. Colin C. Williams & Abbi M. Kedir, 2016. "The Impacts Of Corruption On Firm Performance: Some Lessons From 40 African Countries," Journal of Developmental Entrepreneurship (JDE), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 21(04), pages 1-18, December.
    8. Lurdes Martins & Jorge Cerdeira & Aurora A.C. Teixeira, 2020. "Does corruption boost or harm firms’ performance in developing and emerging economies? A firm‐level study," The World Economy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 43(8), pages 2119-2152, August.
    9. Eugene E. Ezebilo & Francis Odhuno & Philip Kavan, 2019. "The Perceived Impact of Public Sector Corruption on Economic Performance of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises in a Developing Country," Economies, MDPI, vol. 7(3), pages 1-17, August.
    10. Sonenshine, Ralph & Erickson, Bradley O., 2022. "Institutional determinants of emerging market returns and flows," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 51(PB).
    11. Douglas Barrios & Nikita Taniparti & Ricardo Hausmann & Clement Brenot & Can Soylu & Roukaya El Houda & Ekaterina Vashkinskaya & Felicia Belostecinic & Sophia Henn, 2023. "A Growth Diagnostic of Kazakhstan," CID Working Papers 427, Center for International Development at Harvard University.
    12. Adomako, Samuel & Amankwah-Amoah, Joseph & Tarba, Shlomo Y. & Khan, Zaheer, 2021. "Perceived corruption, business process digitization, and SMEs’ degree of internationalization in sub-Saharan Africa," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 123(C), pages 196-207.
    13. Maurizio La Rocca & Tiziana La Rocca & Francesco Fasano & Javier Sanchez-Vidal, 2023. "From the Top Down: Does Corruption Affect Performance?," Papers 2310.20028, arXiv.org.
    14. Missaoui, Ibtissem & Ben Rejeb, Jaleleddine, 2017. "Corruption, secteur bancaire et développement du marché boursier : cas des pays de la zone EURO [Corruption, the banking sector and the development of the stock market: the case of the countries of," MPRA Paper 83620, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    15. Hasan Ayaydin & Pinar Hayaloglu, 2014. "The Effect of Corruption on Firm Growth: Evidence from Firms in Turkey," Asian Economic and Financial Review, Asian Economic and Social Society, vol. 4(5), pages 607-624, May.
    16. Kalyuzhnova, Yelena & Belitski, Maksim, 2019. "The impact of corruption and local content policy in on firm performance: Evidence from Kazakhstan," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 61(C), pages 67-76.
    17. Colin C. Williams & Alvaro Martinez-Perez, 2016. "Evaluating the impacts of corruption on firm performance in developing economies: an institutional perspective," International Journal of Business and Globalisation, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 16(4), pages 401-422.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    bribery; corruption; growth; firm size; Greece;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D73 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Bureaucracy; Administrative Processes in Public Organizations; Corruption
    • O17 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Formal and Informal Sectors; Shadow Economy; Institutional Arrangements
    • M21 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Business Economics - - - Business Economics

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