Abstract

The present study is part of a much larger study that examined the ethics of bribery and the ethics of tax evasion from a variety of perspectives. In this study, data were taken from the most recent World Values Survey. It focuses on atheist views on the ethics of accepting a bribe. Overall, 64.7% of the atheist sample thought that accepting a bribe could never be justified. The relationship between age and the acceptability of taking a bribe was linear. The youngest age group (16–29) was least opposed, while the oldest age group (50+) showed the strongest opposition. Married people were significantly more opposed to bribe taking than were single people. The unemployed group showed the weakest opposition to bribe taking; the retired/pensioned group showed the strongest opposition. The low-income group was significantly more opposed to bribe taking than was the medium-income group. Those in the not happy at all group showed the weakest opposition to bribe taking, while the very happy group showed the strongest opposition. Those on the left side of the political spectrum were significantly more opposed to bribe taking than were those in the right and center groups. Those who worked in the private nonprofit sector were significantly less opposed to bribe taking than were those in the government and business groups. Those who had a great deal of confidence in government were significantly more opposed to bribe taking than were those who had either quite a lot or not very much confidence in government. Gender, education level, and social class were not significant variables.