Title: Trust and bribery
Description: "I study data on bribes actually paid by individuals to public officials, viewing the results through a theoretical lens that considers the implications of trust networks.  A bond of trust may permit an implicit quid pro quo to substitute for a bribe, which reduces corruption.  Appropriate networks are more easily established in small towns, by long-term residents of areas with many other long-term residents, and by individuals in regions with many residents their own age.  I confirm that the prevalence of bribery is lower under these circumstances, using the International Crime Victim Surveys.  I also find that older people, who have had time to develop a network, bribe less.  These results highlight the uphill nature of the battle against corruption faced by policy-makers in rapidly urbanizing countries with high fertility.  I show that victims of (other) crimes bribe all types of public officials more than non-victims, and argue that both their victimization and bribery stem from a distrustful environment"--National Bureau of Economic Research web site.
Subjects: Bribery, Case studies, Political corruption, Trust