What Lies Behind Perceptions of Corruption? A Cultural Approach

Abstract

Countries’ resource-base goes also through the Quality of Government, in terms of hidden institutional defects. A long-strand of literature delved into the institutional integrity distortions, with a special focus on corruption. Our study addresses this topic, by proposing a theoretical framework that has its roots in the Expectancy-Disconfirmation Model to conceptually visualize the role of culture in shaping expectations related to the presence of corruption in governmental performance. The research empirically explores whether and how culture, operationalized by means of the whole set of Hofstede’s cultural dimensions, affects perceived corruption. The latter is measured through the Bayesian Corruption Index, favoured over the alternatives, and ought to deserve wider use. Over 142 countries worldwide, a cross-sectional econometric analysis shows that societies characterized by more power distance, masculinity, uncertainty avoidance, and less individualism score worse in terms of perceived corruption. Findings provide implications for policy-makers and society, as well as for researchers adding light upon the relevance of cultural values to change the perspective about the course of history.