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Behavioral Determinants of Corruption. A Cross-Country Survey

Author

Listed:
  • Borlea Sorin Nicolae

    („Vasile Goldiș” Western University of Arad, Romania)

  • Achim Monica Violeta

    („Babeș-Bolyai “ University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania)

  • Rus Alexandra Ioana Daniela

    („Babeș-Bolyai “ University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania)

Abstract

This research comes to empirical investigate whether the country‟s levels of corruption may be explained by some behavioral factors such as culture, tax morale, trust, religion or happiness. For this purpose, a cross-countries survey of 148 countries is used. The findings document that power distance, trust in legal system, happiness and religion are the most important behavioral determinants of the corruption, explaining about 50 % from the level of corruption around the world. A higher power distance, a lower level of trust in legal system, a lower level of happiness (measured by subjective well-being) and a higher level of religiosity conduct to a higher level of corruption. The findings are important for the policy-makers in order to include the non-economic factors in the analysis of corruption behavior of the people belong to a country, and thus to adopt the most appropriate decisions to fight against this phenomenon.

Suggested Citation

  • Borlea Sorin Nicolae & Achim Monica Violeta & Rus Alexandra Ioana Daniela, 2019. "Behavioral Determinants of Corruption. A Cross-Country Survey," Studia Universitatis „Vasile Goldis” Arad – Economics Series, Sciendo, vol. 29(1), pages 21-39, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:vrs:suvges:v:29:y:2019:i:1:p:21-39:n:2
    DOI: 10.2478/sues-2019-0002
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    corruption; culture; tax morale; trust; religion; happiness;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D73 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Bureaucracy; Administrative Processes in Public Organizations; Corruption
    • E62 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Macroeconomic Policy, Macroeconomic Aspects of Public Finance, and General Outlook - - - Fiscal Policy; Modern Monetary Theory
    • H26 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Tax Evasion and Avoidance

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