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Family Ties and Corruption

Author

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  • Litina Anastasia

    (Department of Economics, Finance & Accounting, University of Macedonia, Egnatia 156, Thessasoniki, Greece)

  • Varvarigos Dimitrios

    (School of Business, Department of Economics, University of Leicester, Mallard House (Brookfield campus), 266 London Road, Leicester, LE2 1RQ, UK)

Abstract

We study the relation between nuclear family ties and corruption. Our theoretical model shows that the population share of people who desire close ties with their families (i.e. the extensive margin) has an ambiguous effect on the level of corruption, due to the presence of conflicting mechanisms. However, the strength of this desire among people who want close family ties (i.e. the intensive margin) has an unambiguously negative effect on corruption. The latter outcome finds support from our empirical analysis: Using micro-level data, we show that, in contrast to conventional wisdom and cross-country reflections, stronger family ties are negatively correlated with a broad set of activities that measure corruption.

Suggested Citation

  • Litina Anastasia & Varvarigos Dimitrios, 2023. "Family Ties and Corruption," The B.E. Journal of Theoretical Economics, De Gruyter, vol. 23(1), pages 195-222, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:bpj:bejtec:v:23:y:2023:i:1:p:195-222:n:1
    DOI: 10.1515/bejte-2021-0025
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    Cited by:

    1. Anastasia Latina & Dimitrios Varvarigos, 2020. "Corruption and the Cultural Evolution of Family Ties," Discussion Papers in Economics 20/04, Division of Economics, School of Business, University of Leicester.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    corruption; corruption attitudes; family ties;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D73 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Bureaucracy; Administrative Processes in Public Organizations; Corruption
    • Z10 - Other Special Topics - - Cultural Economics - - - General

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