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On Self Selection of the Corrupt into the Public Sector

Author

Listed:
  • Ritwik Banerjee

    (Department of Economics and Business Economics, Aarhus University, Denmark)

  • Tushi Baul

    (Department of Economics, New York University, Abu Dhabi)

  • Tanya Rosenblat

    (School of Information, University of Michigan, USA)

Abstract

Do corrupt people self select themselves in professions where the scope of corruption is high? We conduct a corruption experiment with private sector job aspirants and aspirants of Indian bureaucracy. The game models embezzlement of resources in which “supervisors” evaluate the performance of “workers” and then pay them. We find that aspirant bureaucrats indulge in more corruption than private sector aspirants but the likelihood of being corrupt is same across two sectors.

Suggested Citation

  • Ritwik Banerjee & Tushi Baul & Tanya Rosenblat, 2015. "On Self Selection of the Corrupt into the Public Sector," Economics Working Papers 2015-01, Department of Economics and Business Economics, Aarhus University.
    • Handle: RePEc:aah:aarhec:2015-01
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Corruption; Experiments; Bureaucracy;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C91 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Laboratory, Individual Behavior
    • D73 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Bureaucracy; Administrative Processes in Public Organizations; Corruption
    • O12 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Microeconomic Analyses of Economic Development
    • K42 - Law and Economics - - Legal Procedure, the Legal System, and Illegal Behavior - - - Illegal Behavior and the Enforcement of Law

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