Factors Influencing the Perception of Corruption in the Countries of the European Union

Corruption European Union Public Opinion Institutions Democratization

Authors

  • Botond Géza Kálmán
    kalman.botond.geza@nje.hu
    1) Faculty of Economics and Business, John Von Neumann University, Kecskemét 6000, Hungary. 2) Economic Research Institute and Department of Economics and Management, Faculty of Economics, Kodolányi University, Székesfehérvár 8000, Hungary. 3) Department of Finance and Accounting, Institute of Economics and Finance, Faculty of Business, Communication, and Tourism, Budapest Metropolitan University, Budapest 1148, Hungary
  • Endre Béla Huff Faculty of Economics and Business, John Von Neumann University, Kecskemét 6000, Hungary
  • Anh Tuan Hoang HUN-REN Institute for Computer Science and Control, Center of Excellence in Production Informatics and Control, Center of Excellence of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences (MTA), Budapest 1111, Hungary
  • Viharos Zsolt János 1) Faculty of Economics and Business, John Von Neumann University, Kecskemét 6000, Hungary. 4) HUN-REN Institute for Computer Science and Control, Center of Excellence in Production Informatics and Control, Center of Excellence of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences (MTA), Budapest 1111, Hungary
  • Zoltán Zéman Doctoral School of Business and Organizational Sciences, John Von Neumann University, Kecskemét 6000, Hungary
Vol. 9 No. 3 (2025): June
Research Articles

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Objectives: The European Union regularly publishes reports on corruption as part of its Eurobarometer surveys. These report on the opinions of European citizens regarding corruption and the presence of corruption they perceive. Based on survey data from 2008-2022, this study examines the perception of corruption in EU member states. Methods: As a method, the authors use statistical tests. They examine the differences between geographical regions and created country clusters to examine the effect of geographical location on the perception of corruption. They managed to show a difference between north and south. Findings: Based on the results, the role of the cultural and historical background is the most significant in the perception of corruption. Other influences, such as democratization, play a role in shaping opinions. However, the impact of the anti-corruption fight is evaluated independently of the region. It is also a common opinion that corruption cannot be eradicated. Novelty: This study provides a structured approach to analysing corruption perception across regions, emphasizing statistical validation. The findings contribute to understanding the persistence of corruption perception and highlight key influencing factors.