Corruption Perception Boosts Behavior: A Costa Rican Survey Experiment

Costa Rica Political Behavior @AJPS 24 R files Dataverse

New survey experiment tests the 'corruption is self-fulfilling' theory. Respondents exposed to higher corruption prevalence estimates in Costa Rica reported increased willingness to engage in bribery themselves, validating a key hypothesis about societal perception driving individual action.

Methodology & Context

Gran Área Metropolitana household survey with random assignment of information stimuli
* Information display highlighted increasing percentage of Costa Ricans witnessing corruption
* Experiment embedded within standard survey procedures to minimize external influence

📊 Key Impact: Beliefs about societal corruption significantly influenced personal willingness. Exposure led to a documented ~0.05-0.10 increase in self-reported bribery readiness.

This finding underscores the powerful feedback loop between social norms and individual conduct, offering crucial insights for anti-corruption initiatives worldwide.

Article card for article: Corruption As a Self-Fulfilling Prophecy: Evidence from a Survey Experiment in Costa Rica

Corruption As a Self-Fulfilling Prophecy: Evidence from a Survey Experiment in Costa Rica was authored by Ana Corbacho, Daniel Gingerich, Virginia Oliveros and Mauricio Ruiz-Vega. It was published by Wiley in AJPS in 2016.