Right in the Middle: A Field Experiment On The Role Of Integrity Training And Norms In Combating Corruption

Oana Borcan, Nikita Grabher-Meyer, Stephanie Heger and Amrish Patel
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Oana Borcan: School of Economics, University of East Anglia
Nikita Grabher-Meyer: School of Economics, University of East Anglia
Stephanie Heger: University of Bologna
Amrish Patel: School of Economics, University of East Anglia

No 2023-05, University of East Anglia School of Economics Working Paper Series from School of Economics, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK.

Abstract: Although integrity education and awareness is touted as an important solution to combat corruption, there is little evidence on its effectiveness. To fill this gap, we conduct a lab-in-the-field experiment where law students in Ukraine are randomly assigned to an innovative and interactive integrity training programme to enhance students awareness and behaviour around ethical issues. We collect data on attitudes towards corruption and actual corrupt behaviour through a series of surveys and a novel experimental game, in which both the integrity-trained students and those who did not get assigned to integrity training play the role of middlemen in a bribe exchange between firms and public officials. We show that integrity training had a significant impact on attitudes towards corruption but only significantly reduced corrupt behaviour in the game when the students knew they were playing alongside other integrity-trained students.

Date: 2023-12
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-cis, nep-exp and nep-soc
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