Greasing the Palm: Can Collectivism Promote Bribery?

19 Pages Posted: 27 Mar 2011 Last revised: 22 Jul 2012

See all articles by Nina Mazar

Nina Mazar

Boston University - Questrom School of Business

Pankaj Aggarwal

University of Toronto; University of Toronto - Rotman School of Management

Date Written: March 26, 2011

Abstract

Why are there national differences in the propensity to bribe? One correlational study with cross-national data and one laboratory experiment find a significant effect of the degree of collectivism versus individualism present in a national culture on the propensity to offer bribes to international business partners. Furthermore, the effect is mediated by individuals’ sense of responsibility for their actions. Together, the results suggest that collectivism promotes bribery through lower perceived responsibility for one’s actions.

Keywords: Morality, Corruption, Bribery, Culture, Collectivism, Individualism, Cross-National, Moral Disengagement, Diffusion of Responsibility

Suggested Citation

Mazar, Nina and Aggarwal, Pankaj, Greasing the Palm: Can Collectivism Promote Bribery? (March 26, 2011). Psychological Science, Vol. 22, No. 7, pp. 843-848, 2011, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1796322

Nina Mazar (Contact Author)

Boston University - Questrom School of Business ( email )

595 Commonwealth Avenue
Boston, MA MA 02215
United States

Pankaj Aggarwal

University of Toronto ( email )

1265 Military Trail
Scarborough, Ontario M1C 1A4
Canada

HOME PAGE: http://rotman.utoronto.ca/FacultyAndResearch/Faculty/FacultyBios/Aggarwal.aspx

University of Toronto - Rotman School of Management ( email )

105 St. George Street
Toronto, Ontario M5S 3E6 M5S1S4
Canada

HOME PAGE: http://rotman.utoronto.ca/FacultyAndResearch/Faculty/FacultyBios/Aggarwal.aspx

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