Corruption in Europe
Is it all about Democracy?
1st Edition
Published on 30. October 2015
220 pages
978-3-8452-6451-6 (ISBN)
Description
International studies often point to Europe for low levels of corruption. However, recent scandals in nearly all European states illustrate that corruption continues to be on the rise. The author investigates the causes of corruption in Europe. The analysis indicates that a countrys contextual conditions such as the economic development, the degree and duration of democracy or historical factors like the post-communist past strongly influence Europe?s level of corruption. Furthermore, corruption is likely experienced differently depending on interpersonal trust and the justification of bribery. The findings reveal that a bundle of factors adding up to a specific ?democratic culture? hinders the growth of corruption by generating strong democratic institutions and fostering citizen norms and values aimed at monitoring and sanctioning corrupt actors. As a result, democracy promotion is the best remedy against corruption spread in Europe.
More details
Other editions
Additional editions
Book
10/2015
1st Edition
Nomos
€46.00
Article exhausted; check different version
Person
Content
- Cover
- List of Abbreviations
- 1 Thinking about Corruption in Europe
- 1.1 Relevance of the Study
- Structure of the Study
- 1.2 Definition and Characteristics of Corruption
- 1.2.1 Definition of Corruption
- Market-Centered Definitions
- Public-Interested-Centered Definitions
- Public-Office-Centered Definitions
- 1.2.2 Characteristics of Corruption
- Public versus Private Corruption
- Petty versus Grand Corruption
- Passive versus Active Corruption
- 1.3 Theoretical Approaches on the Causes of Corruption
- 1.3.1 Economic Perspectives: The Role of Rational Interests on Corruption
- 1.3.2 Sociological Perspectives: The Role of Culture on Corruption
- 1.3.3 Evaluation of Theoretical Corruption Research
- 1.4 Empirical Studies of the Causes of Corruption
- 1.4.1 Evaluation of Empirical Corruption Research
- 2 Bathtub Model of Corruption
- 2.1 Panel and Multilevel Analysis: A New Framework
- Bathtub Model of Corruption
- 2.2 Corruption in European Countries
- 2.3 Measuring Corruption: The Dependent Variable Reconsidered
- 2.3.1 The Aggregate Level: Macro Level Indices
- Control of Corruption Index
- Corruption Perceptions Index
- International Country Risk Guide
- 2.3.2 Critical Evaluation of Using Macro Corruption-Indices
- 2.3.3 The Individual Level: Micro Level Indices
- 2.3.4 Critical Evaluation of Using Micro Corruption-Indices
- 2.4 Variables and Research Hypotheses: Aggregate and Individual Levels Combined
- 2.4.1 The Macro Level: Economic, Political, Socio-Cultural and Historical Factors
- 2.4.1.1 Economic Factors
- Economic Development
- EU-Membership
- Further Economic Factors
- 2.4.1.2 Political Factors
- Degree of Democracy
- Women in Parliaments
- Further Political Factors
- 2.4.1.3 Socio-Cultural Factors
- Religion
- Further Socio-Cultural Factors
- 2.4.1.4 Historical Factors
- Years of Democracy
- Communist Past
- Further Historical Factors
- 2.4.2 The Micro Level: Socio-demographic Characteristics, Values, Norms and Attitudes
- 2.4.2.1 Socio-Demographic Characteristics
- Gender
- Age
- Employment Status
- Level of Income
- 2.4.2.2 Values and Norms
- Level of Interpersonal Trust
- 2.4.2.3 Attitudes
- Satisfaction with Financial Situation
- Justification of Bribery
- Further Socio-demographic Characteristics, Values, Norms and Attitudes
- 3 Unpacking Corruption in Europe
- 3.1 Explaining Corruption at the Macro Level
- 3.1.1 Measuring Corruption at the Country Level
- 3.1.2 Empirical Findings: The Impact of Country Characteristics on Corruption
- 3.1.2.1 Economic Factors
- Economic Development
- EU-Membership
- 3.1.2.2 Political Factors
- Degree of Democracy
- Women in Parliaments
- 3.1.2.3 Socio-Cultural Factors
- Religion
- Percentage of Catholics
- Percentage of Orthodox
- Percentage of Protestants
- Percentage of Muslims
- 3.1.2.4 Historical Factors
- Years of Democracy
- Communist Past
- 3.2 The Impact of Country Characteristics on Corruption
- Robustness Check
- 3.3 Explaining Corruption at the Micro Level
- 3.3.1 Measuring Corruption at the Individual Level
- 3.3.2 Empirical Findings: The Impact of Socio-Demographic Characteristics, Values, Norms, and Attitudes on Corruption
- 3.3.2.1 Socio-Demographic Characteristics
- Gender
- Age
- Employment Status
- Level of Income
- 3.3.2.2 Values and Norms
- Level of Interpersonal Trust
- 3.3.2.3 Attitudes
- Satisfaction with Financial Situation
- Justification of Bribery
- 3.4 The Impact of Individual Characteristics on Corruption
- 4 The Bigger Picture of Corruption in Europe
- 4.1 Macro Model of Corruption in Europe
- Macro Model of Corruption
- 4.2 Micro Models of Corruption in Europe
- 4.3 Europe's Bathtub Model of Corruption
- European-Specific Bathtub Model
- 4.4 Conclusion and Research Prospects
- Limitations and Implications for Future Research
- 5 References
- Appendix
- Appendix A: Literature Overview
- Appendix B: Independent Variables
- Active corruption
