The Calculus of Corrupt Decision-Making: An Integrated Analytical Framework
Abstract
This article develops an integrated decision-making model of engagement in corrupt transactions. Existing utilitarian, institutional, and psychosocial–cultural accounts typically operate in analytic isolation, producing a persistent gap in their integration; this model fills that gap by bringing these perspectives together within a probabilistic specification. Drawing on core contributions from the literature, corrupt engagement is modeled as the probabilistic outcome of crossing a moral hurdle and performing a learning-shaped cost–benefit calculus. By clarifying public agents' choices and providing policymakers with actionable tools to design integrity policies that jointly address ethical, institutional, and behavioral drivers, the model offers a more realistic and policy-relevant perspective than approaches focused solely on utilitarian incentives or legal sanctions.
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Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico
Grant numbers 442699/2023-9
