The contagion of corruption: a model for understanding systemic ethical failures
| Date | 20 April 2023 |
| Pages | 1208-1219 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/JFC-02-2023-0021 |
| Published date | 20 April 2023 |
| Subject Matter | Accounting & finance,Financial risk/company failure,Financial crime |
| Author | James F. Gilsinan,James E. Fisher,Muhammad Q. Islam,Henry M. Ordower,Wassim Shahin |
The contagion of corruption: a
model for understanding systemic
ethical failures
James F. Gilsinan
Department of Political Science, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
James E. Fisher
Richard A. Chaifetz School of Business, Saint Louis University, St. Louis,
Missouri, USA
Muhammad Q. Islam
Richard A. Chaifetz School of Business, Saint Louis University, St. Louis,Missouri,
USA and Department of Economics, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, Missouri,USA
Henry M. Ordower
School of Law, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, Missouri, USA, and
Wassim Shahin
Adnan Kassar School of Business, Lebanese American University,
Beirut, Lebanon
Abstract
Purpose –Efforts to combat corruption in societyoften seem to resemble a game of whack-a-mole. When
dealt with in one sector of the society,it pops up in another, and while that is being dealt with, it again raises
its ugly head in the place where it had appearedto be suppressed. This paper aims to present a model of how
corruptionspreads based on an alternative view of its main components.
Design/methodology/approach –Key elements of the model are analyzed by applying them to
particularexamples of systemic ethical failures using a varietyof mini cases across a number of policy areas.
Findings –Corruptionis based on conformity rather than rule breaking. Furthermore,personal or corporate
gains are not sufficient as causes of ethically problematic actions. More fundamentally, survival of the
organizationalenterprise is the driving force in spreading corrupt behavior.
Practical implications –This paper concludes with a discussion of the model’sefficacy for formulating
legislativesolutions for ethical lapses in a particular policy area.Again, a mini cases study is used to illustrate
the main pointsof the argument.
Originality/value –Viewing systemicethical failures through this alternativelens may well result in more
effectiveways to combat the spread of corrupt practices.
Keywords Corruption, Regulatory failure, Organizational survival tactics
Paper type Case study
Introduction
Corruption is a many layered phenomenon, with a variety of definitions. Government
corruption for example is defined as the abuse of entrusted power for personal gain (www.
transparency.org/en/what-is-corruption, accessed 12/28/22). Other definitions move beyond
the public/governmentalsphere to include dishonest or illegal practices by any organization
JFC
30,5
1208
Journalof Financial Crime
Vol.30 No. 5, 2023
pp. 1208-1219
© Emerald Publishing Limited
1359-0790
DOI 10.1108/JFC-02-2023-0021
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available on Emerald Insight at:
https://www.emerald.com/insight/1359-0790.htm
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