IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/soceps/v70y2020ics0038012118301411.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

A critique on the Corruption Perceptions Index: An interdisciplinary approach

Author

Listed:
  • Budsaratragoon, Pornanong
  • Jitmaneeroj, Boonlert

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to test the assumptions of the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) and examine the causal relationships among its data sources for improvement priorities. In doing so, we use a novel interdisciplinary methodology including cluster analysis, classification analysis, partial least squares structural equation modeling and importance-performance map analysis. Our methodology enables policymakers to identify the critical data sources that a given country should focus on in order to improve its position in the CPI ranking relative to other countries. Based on corruption perceptions of 176 countries in the 2016 CPI, our results provide evidence against the CPI's assumptions, as individual data sources have unequal effects on the CPI and exhibit the causal interrelations among one another. Corruption perceptions are not homogeneous across countries, with developed countries showing lower levels of perceived corruption than emerging countries. The presence of synergistic effects among the CPI's data sources suggests that national policymakers consider multiple data sources of the CPI for decision-making process rather than simply focus on any single one of these data sources or their equally-weighted aggregation. Moreover, policymakers should allocate the country's resources – which are often limited – with the first priority to improving the data source score of the Economist Intelligence Unit Country Risk Ratings, the critical driver of the CPI. Interestingly, the modified CPI which removes insignificant data sources outperforms the non-modified CPI in terms of the goodness-of-fit assessment, the unbiasedness and the association with the World Bank's Control of Corruption.

Suggested Citation

  • Budsaratragoon, Pornanong & Jitmaneeroj, Boonlert, 2020. "A critique on the Corruption Perceptions Index: An interdisciplinary approach," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 70(C).
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:soceps:v:70:y:2020:i:c:s0038012118301411
    DOI: 10.1016/j.seps.2019.100768
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0038012118301411
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only

    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.seps.2019.100768?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Razafindrakoto, Mireille & Roubaud, François, 2010. "Are International Databases on Corruption Reliable? A Comparison of Expert Opinion Surveys and Household Surveys in Sub-Saharan Africa," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 38(8), pages 1057-1069, August.
    2. Knack, Stephen, 2007. "Measuring Corruption: A Critique of Indicators in Eastern Europe and Central Asia," Journal of Public Policy, Cambridge University Press, vol. 27(3), pages 255-291, December.
    3. Huang, Chiung-Ju, 2016. "Is corruption bad for economic growth? Evidence from Asia-Pacific countries," The North American Journal of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 35(C), pages 247-256.
    4. Baesens, Bart & Verstraeten, Geert & Van den Poel, Dirk & Egmont-Petersen, Michael & Van Kenhove, Patrick & Vanthienen, Jan, 2004. "Bayesian network classifiers for identifying the slope of the customer lifecycle of long-life customers," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 156(2), pages 508-523, July.
    5. John Hulland, 1999. "Use of partial least squares (PLS) in strategic management research: a review of four recent studies," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 20(2), pages 195-204, February.
    6. Alan C. Acock, 2013. "Discovering Structural Equation Modeling Using Stata," Stata Press books, StataCorp LP, number dsemus, March.
    7. Azzopardi, Ernest & Nash, Robert, 2013. "A critical evaluation of importance–performance analysis," Tourism Management, Elsevier, vol. 35(C), pages 222-233.
    8. Jakob Svensson, 2005. "Eight Questions about Corruption," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 19(3), pages 19-42, Summer.
    9. Kaufmann, Daniel & Kraay, Aart & Mastruzzi, Massimo, 2010. "The worldwide governance indicators : methodology and analytical issues," Policy Research Working Paper Series 5430, The World Bank.
    10. Kurt Matzler & Elmar Sauerwein & Kenneth Heischmidt, 2003. "Importance-performance analysis revisited: the role of the factor structure of customer satisfaction," The Service Industries Journal, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 23(2), pages 112-129, March.
    11. Wu, Wei-Wen & Lan, Lawrence W. & Lee, Yu-Ting, 2012. "Exploring the critical pillars and causal relations within the NRI: An innovative approach," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 218(1), pages 230-238.
    12. Glaeser, Edward L. & Saks, Raven E., 2006. "Corruption in America," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 90(6-7), pages 1053-1072, August.
    13. Lambsdorff,Johann Graf, 2007. "The Institutional Economics of Corruption and Reform," Cambridge Books, Cambridge University Press, number 9780521872751, October.
    14. Paulus, Michal & Kristoufek, Ladislav, 2015. "Worldwide clustering of the corruption perception," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 428(C), pages 351-358.
    15. Phadermrod, Boonyarat & Crowder, Richard M. & Wills, Gary B., 2019. "Importance-Performance Analysis based SWOT analysis," International Journal of Information Management, Elsevier, vol. 44(C), pages 194-203.
    16. M A Thomas, 2010. "What Do the Worldwide Governance Indicators Measure?," The European Journal of Development Research, Palgrave Macmillan;European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI), vol. 22(1), pages 31-54, February.
    17. Boonlert Jitmaneeroj, 2017. "Beyond the equal-weight framework of the Social Progress Index," International Journal of Social Economics, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 44(12), pages 2336-2350, December.
    18. Chowdhury, Shyamal K., 2004. "The effect of democracy and press freedom on corruption: an empirical test," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 85(1), pages 93-101, October.
    19. Goel, Rajeev K & Nelson, Michael A, 1998. "Corruption and Government Size: A Disaggregated Analysis," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 97(1-2), pages 107-120, October.
    20. Chowdhury, Shyamal K., 2004. "Do Democracy And Press Freedom Reduce Corruption? Evidence From A Cross Country Study," Discussion Papers 18769, University of Bonn, Center for Development Research (ZEF).
    21. repec:dau:papers:123456789/4352 is not listed on IDEAS
    22. Gatti, Roberta, 1999. "Corruption and trade tariffs, or a case for uniform tariffs," Policy Research Working Paper Series 2216, The World Bank.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Mariia Shkolnykova & Lasse Steffens & Jan Wedemeier, 2024. "Systems of innovation: Path of economic transition and differences in institutions in central and Eastern Europe?," Growth and Change, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 55(1), March.
    2. Hu, Juncheng, 2021. "Do facilitation payments affect earnings management? Evidence from China," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 68(C).
    3. Gustavo Gouvêa Maciel, 2021. "What We (Don't) Know so Far About Tolerance Towards Corruption in European Democracies: Measurement Approaches, Determinants, and Types," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 157(3), pages 1131-1153, October.
    4. Hu, Juncheng & Li, Xiaorong & Wan, Zhong, 2023. "Corporate corruption and future audit fees: Evidence from a quasi-natural experiment," Journal of Contemporary Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 19(3).
    5. Juan Cándido Gómez‐Gallego & María del Rocío Moreno‐Enguix & María Gómez‐Gallego, 2022. "The relation between the index of economic freedom and good governance with efficiency of the European Structural Funds," Papers in Regional Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 101(2), pages 327-349, April.
    6. João Leitão & João Capucho, 2021. "Institutional, Economic, and Socio-Economic Determinants of the Entrepreneurial Activity of Nations," Administrative Sciences, MDPI, vol. 11(1), pages 1-32, March.
    7. Budsaratragoon, Pornanong & Jitmaneeroj, Boonlert, 2021. "Reform priorities for prosperity of nations: The Legatum Index," Journal of Policy Modeling, Elsevier, vol. 43(3), pages 657-672.
    8. Lafuente Juan Ángel & Marco Amparo & Monfort Mercedes & Ordóñez Javier, 2022. "Does Perceived Corruption Converge? International Evidence," Economics - The Open-Access, Open-Assessment Journal, De Gruyter, vol. 16(1), pages 43-56, January.
    9. Pornanong Budsaratragoon & Boonlert Jitmaneeroj, 2021. "Fund Ratings of Socially Responsible Investing (SRI) Funds: A Precautionary Note," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(14), pages 1-25, July.
    10. Nour Mohamad Fayad, 2024. "The Causality Between Corruption and Economic Growth in MENA Countries: A Dynamic Panel-Data Analysis," International Journal of Finance, Insurance and Risk Management, International Journal of Finance, Insurance and Risk Management, vol. 14(1), pages 28-49.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. José-Miguel Bello y Villarino, 2021. "Measuring Corruption: A Critical Analysis of the Existing Datasets and Their Suitability for Diachronic Transnational Research," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 157(2), pages 709-747, September.
    2. Eugen Dimant & Guglielmo Tosato, 2018. "Causes And Effects Of Corruption: What Has Past Decade'S Empirical Research Taught Us? A Survey," Journal of Economic Surveys, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 32(2), pages 335-356, April.
    3. Rajeev K. Goel & James W. Saunoris, 2016. "Military Buildups, Economic Development and Corruption," Manchester School, University of Manchester, vol. 84(6), pages 697-722, December.
    4. Michael Breen & Robert Gillanders & Gemma Mcnulty & Akisato Suzuki, 2017. "Gender and Corruption in Business," Journal of Development Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 53(9), pages 1486-1501, September.
    5. Christopher L. Ambrey & Christopher M. Fleming & Matthew Manning & Christine Smith, 2016. "On the Confluence of Freedom of the Press, Control of Corruption and Societal Welfare," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 128(2), pages 859-880, September.
    6. Gutmann, Jerg & Padovano, Fabio & Voigt, Stefan, 2020. "Perception vs. experience: Explaining differences in corruption measures using microdata," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 65(C).
    7. Laarni Escresa & Lucio Picci, 2020. "The determinants of cross-border corruption," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 184(3), pages 351-378, September.
    8. Roberto Dell’Anno, 2020. "Corruption around the world: an analysis by partial least squares—structural equation modeling," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 184(3), pages 327-350, September.
    9. Qu, Guangjun & Slagter, Bob & Sylwester, Kevin & Doiron, Kyle, 2019. "Explaining the standard errors of corruption perception indices," Journal of Comparative Economics, Elsevier, vol. 47(4), pages 907-920.
    10. Takahiro Sato & Atsushi Kato, 2014. "Greasing the Wheels? The Effect of Corruption in Regulated Manufacturing Sectors of India," Discussion Paper Series DP2014-07, Research Institute for Economics & Business Administration, Kobe University.
    11. Zakharov, Nikita, 2019. "Does corruption hinder investment? Evidence from Russian regions," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 56(C), pages 39-61.
    12. Krisztina Kis-Katos & Günther G. Schulze, 2013. "Corruption in Southeast Asia: a survey of recent research," Asian-Pacific Economic Literature, The Crawford School, The Australian National University, vol. 27(1), pages 79-109, May.
    13. Qu, Guangjun & Sylwester, Kevin & Wang, Feng, 2016. "Anticorruption and Growth: Evidence from China," MPRA Paper 72190, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    14. Bin Dong & Benno Torgler, 2010. "The Causes of Corruption: Evidence from China," Working Papers 2010.72, Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei.
    15. Vincenzo Alfano & Salvatore Capasso & Rajeev K. Goel, 2021. "EU accession: A boon or bane for corruption?," Journal of Economics and Finance, Springer;Academy of Economics and Finance, vol. 45(1), pages 1-21, January.
    16. Günther G. Schulze & Bambang Suharnoko Sjahrir & Nikita Zakharov, 2016. "Corruption in Russia," Journal of Law and Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 59(1), pages 135-171.
    17. Jeffrey Milyo & Adriana Cordis, 2013. "Measuring Public Corruption in the United States: Evidence from Administrative Records of Federal Prosecutions," Working Papers 1322, Department of Economics, University of Missouri.
    18. Robert Gillanders & Sinikka Parviainen, 2018. "Corruption and the shadow economy at the regional level," Review of Development Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 22(4), pages 1729-1743, November.
    19. Bin Dong & Benno Torgler, 2010. "The Causes of Corruption: Evidence from China," Working Papers 2010.72, Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei.
    20. Roxana Gutiérrez-Romero & Luciana Méndez-Errico, 2017. "Does Inequality Foster or Hinder the Growth of Entrepreneurship in the Long Run?," Research on Economic Inequality, in: Research on Economic Inequality, volume 25, pages 299-341, Emerald Group Publishing Limited.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:soceps:v:70:y:2020:i:c:s0038012118301411. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/seps .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.