Tracing the Pathways of Economic Corruption: A Comprehensive Study of Chinese Grassroots Public Officials Based on Prison Data

Kangqing Wang and Lin Tian

Emerging Markets Finance and Trade, 2025, vol. 61, issue 6, 1802-1818

Abstract: This study investigates the complex relationship between various forms of strain and economic corruption among grassroots public officials in China, with the goal of offering insights for more effective governance. Drawing on a structured survey of 493 convicted officials across 60 prisons in China, this research explores the psychological and situational strains that precede corrupt behaviors. Findings indicate that certain types of strain, aligned with General Strain Theory (GST), significantly increase the likelihood of corrupt actions among officials. These strains give rise to negative emotional responses, hedonistic values, and cognitive beliefs that rationalize corrupt acts, which together form a mediating pathway from strain to corruption. The study’s findings underscore GST’s relevance in the context of white-collar crime, showing how public officials under significant strain may resort to unethical behavior as a coping mechanism.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1080/1540496X.2025.2468360

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