Factors affecting corruption: A cross-country analysis

Abstract

The developments in the fields of advanced technology, IT, communications and e-government have taken place to improve efficiency, productivity, transparency in the delivery of government services. The demand for efficient and transparent government services has also increased. Thus, this study aims at deriving factors contributing to a decrease in corruption based on literature review and to examine the relationship between e-government and government corruption through a cross-country analysis. The paper analyses how the government corruption is influenced by e-government development status and social, economic and governance factors in various countries. In addition, the mediating effects of ICT use and e-government development (i.e. telecommunication infrastructure, online service and e-participation) were assessed in order to define the relationship between various social, economic and governance factors o government corruption. In this study, data from 130 countries were analyzed using a three-stage method of mediating effects as suggested by Baron and Kenny, 1986. The results of the analysis show a significant relationship between the identified social, economic and governance factors and corruption. In addition, the ICT and e-government developments mediated between these social, economic and governance factors like education level, the openness of the economy, political rights and civil liberties etc. in reducing corruption. These findings suggest the most effective strategies required to curb corruption.