Petty corruption in Central and Eastern Europe: the client’s perspective

This qualitative study examines the role of clients in petty corruption by analyzing actual corrupt exchanges between ordinary citizens and low level public and private employees in post-communist Hungary. Using a grounded theory approach, interviews reveal how clients from different social strata d...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Jancsics, David (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
Published: 2013
In: Crime, law and social change
Year: 2013, Volume: 60, Issue: 3, Pages: 319-341
Online Access: Volltext (lizenzpflichtig)
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Keywords:
Corrupt Actor
Corrupt Transaction
Ordinary Citizen
Prior Relationship
Social Distance
Description
Summary:This qualitative study examines the role of clients in petty corruption by analyzing actual corrupt exchanges between ordinary citizens and low level public and private employees in post-communist Hungary. Using a grounded theory approach, interviews reveal how clients from different social strata deal with low-level agents in corrupt situations. Findings suggest two contrasting forms of low-level corruption: transactions where the client and the agent do not have a prior relationship and where external factors dominate the relationship; and cases with stronger social ties between the actors, where the client has more freedom to structure the transaction. However, a client's social background frequently determines the form of corrupt transaction and the form of resources illegally exchanged in the deal.
Item Description:Literaturverzeichnis: Seite 340-341
ISSN:1573-0751
DOI:10.1007/s10611-013-9451-0