Abstract

The present study is part of a much larger study that examines 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. Overall, opposition to taking a bribe was strong. All demographic variable tested were significant. Women were significantly more opposed to bribe taking than were men. Opposition to bribe taking increased with age. With regard to marital status, the least opposition to bribe taking was among the group who were living together as married; the divorced group showed the strongest opposition. Opposition increased with the level of education. Those at the highest income level showed the least opposition to bribe taking. The retired/pensioned group showed the strongest opposition to bribe taking. Those in the upper class were least opposed to bring taking. The very happy group had the strongest tolerance to bribe taking. The relationship between degree of happiness and acceptance of bribe taking was curvilinear. Those on the right side of the political spectrum showed the least opposition to bribe taking. Those who worked in the private, nonprofit sector were the least opposed to bribe taking, while those who worked for government institutions had the strongest opposition. The group that had a great deal of confidence in the government showed the lowest opposition to bribe taking, while the group that had no confidence at all in the government had the strongest opposition.