Unraveling the threads of corruption perception: effects of age and cohort

ABSTRACT

This study aimed to empirically analyze the individual effects of age effect and cohort effect on corruption perception. Given the importance of comprehending the process of corruption perception formation, this study treated age groups as an independent variable impacting corruption perception, and sex, education level, and average monthly household income as control variables. The analysis aimed to understand if corruption perception varied among age groups and whether disparities were due to cohort effect or age effect. Results showed that age had a negative impact on corruption perception. When comparing two generations across different years, age effect was found to have a greater influence than cohort effect. Despite certain limitations, this study highlighted the significant role of age in shaping corruption perception and emphasized the policy implications of formulating corruption prevention strategies that accommodate shifts in corruption perception across the life cycle.

KEYWORDS:

• Corruption
• corruption perception
• age
• age effect
• cohort effect

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1. Drawing upon prior research, this study posited that the decline in corruption perception with advancing age could stem from diminished engagement in corrupt activities, attributed to accumulated social experiences and networks. Alternatively, the findings might imply a lowered corruption perception due to prolonged exposure to corruption, potentially resulting in desensitization to corrupt practices (Lambsdorff, 2016). Hence, future research endeavors will be crucial in providing further insights into this aspect. The author extends appreciation to the anonymous reviewer for bringing attention to this potential interpretation.

2. There may be inquiries regarding the disproportionality between the severity of corruption events and the observed increase in corruption perception scores. This phenomenon could be linked to the extent and manner of media coverage of corruption cases. Park and Lee (2017) found that reliance on traditional media significantly raised perceived corruption levels. Media outlets in Korea, varying in political orientation, may have differently portrayed corruption cases, thus impacting corruption perception scores.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Ye-Eun Sim

Ye-Eun Sim is a master’s student in the Department of Public Administration at Korea University, with research interests focused on environmental policy, governance, and the impact of technological advancements on society.