Russian Journal of Economics and Law (Jun 2019)
The Behavior of Corruption: An Empirical Typology of Public Corruption by Objective & Method
Abstract
Objective: to formulate the notion, features and types of corrupt behavior.Methods: dialectical approach to cognition of social phenomena, allowing to analyze them in the historical development and functioning in the context of a set of objective and subjective factors, which determined the choice of the following research methods: formal-logical, comparative-legal, sociological.Results: An analysis of more than 300 public corruption convictions occurring over a three-year period was conducted. A conclusion is made that corruption is misconduct beyond favors received for actions typical of a public official's position. This holding makes it unclear the degree to which the use of an official office for personal advantage, or that of another, can be considered corruption. At the same time, considering these issues is essential for effective prevention, identification and suppression of corrupt behavior. Scientific novelty: the paper contributes to science in that an empirical typology of corruption behaviors was developed. The corpus delicti and methods for several hundred corruption cases were identified. It was discovered that eight distinct types of corrupt conduct exist, pursuing two broad illicit objectives. Therefore, despite the multiplicity of charges brought in corruption cases, there exist a limited number of behaviors that underlie this conduct. Besides, the authors compare these findings with the previous literature on corruption. The utility of the typology for understanding the underlying behavioral aspects of corruption is explained with implications for reducing its occurrence.Practical significance: the key results and conclusions of the paper can be used in scientific, educational and law-enforcing activities when considering the issues related to prevention, identification and suppression of corrupt behavior.
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