Cultural Values, National Personality Characteristics, and Intelligence as Correlates of Corruption: A Nation Level Analysis

Abstract

Research on national corruption has mostly focused on economics and politics of corruption, whereas cultural factors and especially national personality characteristics have attracted less attention. In the present study, the influence of Hofstede’s cultural dimensions, Schwartz’s values, Eysenckian personality factors, and national IQ on Corruption Perception Index scores were studied by using aggregated data. Regression analysis results showed that EPQ Lie scores, Hofstede's power distance, and masculinity, as well as Schwartz's hierarchy, mastery, and harmony, were positively, and individualism and intelligence negatively related to corruption. The effects of cultural values on corruption were mostly mediated by income. The effect of individualism on corruption was moderated by income so that individualism was negatively related to corruption in countries with lower income. The results suggest that cultural factors should be taken into account in corruption studies and anti-corruption policies.