Speaker: Ina Kubbe (Hebrew University / Tel Aviv University)
When: 15 April – 16.00 CET
Where: Online. Register to join here
Corruption and Informal Practices in the Middle East and North Africa: A Pooled Cross-Sectional Analysis
Authors: Ina Kubbe (Hebrew University / Tel Aviv University, Israel), Fatih Kırşanlı (Social Sciences University of Ankara, College of Political Science, Department of Economics) and Wisnu Setiadi Nugroho (Universitas Gadjah Mada, Faculty of Economics and Business).
How do informal networks shape corruption in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA)? Why do traditional anti-corruption strategies fail to address the root causes of bribery in the region? This talk focuses on the intricate relationship between social norms, informal practices, and corruption, offering new insights into why certain forms of corruption persist despite legal and institutional reforms.
Based on a rigorous empirical study analysing bribery across five key sectors—education, judiciary, healthcare, police, and business permits—, this discussion will highlight the critical role of informal practices like wasta (reciprocity-based networking), hamula (tribal clientelism), and combina (favor-exchange systems) in shaping corruption patterns. The research employs multinomial logistic and logit regressions to uncover how and why people in MENA engage in bribery at significantly higher rates compared to other regions.
The key discussion points of the seminar will be the creation of both opportunities and obstacles for governance by culturally embedded informal practices and the impact of social networks and personal influence in sustaining corruption. Moreover, there will also be investigating why existing anti-corruption policies, often designed with Western frameworks, fail in MENA and, as a consequence, how policymakers can design more effective, culturally attuned anti-corruption measures and their broader implications for governance, economic stability, and social trust in the region.
Corruption is not just a legal or economic issue—it is deeply intertwined with historical legacies, cultural expectations, and systemic inefficiencies. This talk will challenge conventional wisdom and propose innovative policy solutions that acknowledge the reality of informal governance structures in the MENA region.
The BridgeGap Talk Series
Want to make a real difference in the fight against corruption? The BridgeGap Talk Series is your chance to connect with leading experts and rising stars in the field. Join the BridgeGap experts as they share their knowledge on the multidisciplinary research and innovative tools designed to combat corruption. Join the conversation and help build a more transparent and accountable world.
In this third edition, Ina Kubbe, researcher at Hebrew University / Tel Aviv University, will discuss the study “Corruption and Informal Practices in the Middle East and North Africa: A Pooled Cross-Sectional Analysis” co-authored with Fatih Kırşanlı (Social Sciences University of Ankara, College of Political Science, Department of Economics) and Wisnu Setiadi Nugroho (Universitas Gadjah Mada, Faculty of Economics and Business).
Register to join us on 15 April at 16.00 CET
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