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Cultural Discrepancy and National Corruption: Investigating the Difference between Cultural Values and Practices and Its Relationship to Corrupt Behavior

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  • Gelbrich, Katja
  • Stedham, Yvonne
  • Gäthke, Daniel

Abstract

The relationship between culture and corruption has been the focus of various studies, producing inconsistent results. We suggest that these inconsistencies might be due to the conceptualization and measurement of culture. Drawing on the possible value/fact dichotomy discussed in ethical philosophy, we introduce the construct of cultural discrepancy—the difference between cultural values (“ought†) and practices (“is†)—as a predictor of pervasive (i.e., fully institutionalized and predictable) and arbitrary (i.e., uncertain and relatively unorganized) corruption. Examining the relationship between the discrepancies observed in the GLOBE cultural dimensions and the Corruption Perception Index shows that in-group collectivism discrepancy is negatively related to pervasive corruption; future orientation discrepancy is positively related to arbitrary corruption. Further, we show that these relationships are contingent on national wealth. The negative relationship for in-group collectivism discrepancy is most pronounced in poor and moderately wealthy countries, and the positive relationship for future orientation discrepancy is most pronounced in rich countries.

Suggested Citation

  • Gelbrich, Katja & Stedham, Yvonne & Gäthke, Daniel, 2016. "Cultural Discrepancy and National Corruption: Investigating the Difference between Cultural Values and Practices and Its Relationship to Corrupt Behavior," Business Ethics Quarterly, Cambridge University Press, vol. 26(2), pages 201-225, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:cup:buetqu:v:26:y:2016:i:02:p:201-225_00
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    Cited by:

    1. Aditya Simha & K. Praveen Parboteeah, 2020. "The Big 5 Personality Traits and Willingness to Justify Unethical Behavior—A Cross-National Examination," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 167(3), pages 451-471, December.
    2. Minbaeva, Dana & Rabbiosi, Larissa & Stahl, Günter K., 2018. "Not walking the talk? How host country cultural orientations may buffer the damage of corporate values’ misalignment in multinational corporations," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 53(6), pages 880-895.
    3. Bahoo, Salman & Alon, Ilan & Paltrinieri, Andrea, 2020. "Corruption in international business: A review and research agenda," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 29(4).
    4. Vijay S. Sampath & Noushi Rahman, 2019. "Bribery in MNEs: The Dynamics of Corruption Culture Distance and Organizational Distance to Core Values," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 159(3), pages 817-835, October.
    5. Changwatchai, Piyaphan & Dheera-aumpon, Siwapong, 2023. "Culture and bribe giving: Evidence from firm-level data," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 64(C).
    6. Calza, Francesco & Cannavale, Chiara & Zohoorian Nadali, Iman, 2020. "How do cultural values influence entrepreneurial behavior of nations? A behavioral reasoning approach," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 29(5).
    7. Martin Obschonka & Michael Stuetzer & Alexander Newman & Cristina B. Gibson & Samuel D. Gosling & Peter J. Rentfrow & Jeff Potter, 2023. "Corruption revisited: the influence of national personality, culture, and wealth," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 54(8), pages 1577-1587, October.
    8. Pier Luigi Marchini & Tatiana Mazza & Alice Medioli, 2020. "Corruption and sustainable development: The impact on income shifting in European international groups," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 27(2), pages 717-730, March.
    9. Elina Weiste & Sari Käpykangas & Lise-Lotte Uusitalo & Melisa Stevanovic, 2020. "Being Heard, Exerting Influence, or Knowing How to Play the Game? Expectations of Client Involvement among Social and Health Care Professionals and Clients," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(16), pages 1-19, August.
    10. Agyenim Boateng & Yan Wang & Collins Ntim & Keith W. Glaister, 2021. "National culture, corporate governance and corruption: A cross‐country analysis," International Journal of Finance & Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 26(3), pages 3852-3874, July.
    11. Karacay, Gaye & Bayraktar, Secil & Kabasakal, Hayat & Dastmalchian, Ali, 2019. "Role of Leaders as Agents of Negotiation for Counterbalancing Cultural Dissonance in the Middle East and North Africa Region," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 25(4).

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