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What Drives Corruption? Evidence from North African Firms

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  • Clara Delavallade

Abstract

This paper empirically analyses the main microeconomic determinants of two forms of corruption supply, administrative corruption and state capture, by Maghrebi firms. This study is based on a new database of nearly 600 Algerian, Moroccan and Tunisian firms. I show that tax evasion is a major factor of the engagement of firms in administrative corruption. The latter increases with the share of sales hidden by the firm as long as it is below half of total sales, and slightly decreases thereafter. State capture is fostered by a failing enforcement of property and contract rights. Interestingly, less competitive firms appear to engage more in both forms of corruption than the most dynamic ones. After assessing the robustness of my empirical results, I draw a comparison of the factors of corruption in North Africa, Uganda and transition countries. Copyright 2012 , Oxford University Press.

Suggested Citation

  • Clara Delavallade, 2012. "What Drives Corruption? Evidence from North African Firms," Journal of African Economies, Centre for the Study of African Economies, vol. 21(4), pages 499-547, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:jafrec:v:21:y:2012:i:4:p:499-547
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1093/jae/ejs006
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    Cited by:

    1. Godspower-Akpomiemie, Euphemia & Ojah, Kalu, 2018. "Money laundering, Tax havens, Transparency and Board of Directors of Banks," MPRA Paper 89550, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    2. Gauthier, Bernard & Goyette, Jonathan & Kouamé, Wilfried A.K., 2021. "Why do firms pay bribes? Evidence on the demand and supply sides of corruption in developing countries," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 190(C), pages 463-479.
    3. Zhang, John Fan & So, Jacky Yuk-chow, 2024. "The effect of corruption exposure on the ESG performance of multinational firms11We greatly appreciate the valuable feedback from the editor Hui Guo. John Fan Zhang is an assistant professor and Jacky Yuk-chow So is the Chair Professor, both authors ," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 86(C).
    4. Pieroni, Luca & d'Agostino, Giorgio & Bartolucci, Francesco, 2013. "Identifying corruption through latent class models: evidence from transition economies," MPRA Paper 43981, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    5. Tomson Ogwang & Danny Cho, 2014. "A Conceptual Framework for Constructing a Corruption Diffusion Index," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 125(1), pages 1-9, November.
    6. Mazhar Ummad & Iftikhar Komal, 2021. "Corruption Accusations and Bureaucratic Performance: Evidence from Pakistan," Economics - The Open-Access, Open-Assessment Journal, De Gruyter, vol. 15(1), pages 60-71, January.
    7. Colin C. Williams & Abbi M. Kedir, 2016. "The Impacts Of Corruption On Firm Performance: Some Lessons From 40 African Countries," Journal of Developmental Entrepreneurship (JDE), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 21(04), pages 1-18, December.
    8. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake & Ajantha Sisira Kumara & Asankha Pallegedara, 2023. "The nexus between public sector corruption and private sector efficiency: Evidence from worldwide firm‐level data," Review of Development Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 27(2), pages 1056-1077, May.
    9. Joseph Mawejje & Ibrahim Mike Okumu, 2016. "Tax Evasion and the Business Environment in Uganda," South African Journal of Economics, Economic Society of South Africa, vol. 84(3), pages 440-460, September.
    10. S. Benson Simwanza & Dibyendu Maiti, 2025. "Does E-Government Reduce Corruption in Sub-Saharan Africa? A Theoretical and Empirical Analysis," Working papers 357, Centre for Development Economics, Delhi School of Economics.
    11. d'Agostino, G. & Dunne, J.P. & Pieroni, L., 2016. "Corruption and growth in Africa," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 43(C), pages 71-88.
    12. Giorgio d’Agostino & Luca Pieroni, 2019. "Modelling Corruption Perceptions: Evidence from Eastern Europe and Central Asian Countries," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 142(1), pages 311-341, February.

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • C2 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables
    • D73 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Bureaucracy; Administrative Processes in Public Organizations; Corruption
    • O17 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Formal and Informal Sectors; Shadow Economy; Institutional Arrangements
    • H32 - Public Economics - - Fiscal Policies and Behavior of Economic Agents - - - Firm

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