ATTITUDE TOWARD BRIBERY: A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF RUSSIA AND UKRAINE

Robert W. McGee
Fayetteville State University

Yanira Petrides
Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México

ABSTRACT

The goal of this study was to determine whether Russian and Ukrainian views on the
acceptability of bribery were similar or significantly different. The most recent World Values Survey
data were analyzed, and comparisons were made. The Russian and Ukrainian sample sizes were
3561 and 2825, respectively, and interviews were conducted throughout most or all regions of both
countries, making it possible to arrive at some general conclusions. Overall, Russians were
significantly less opposed to bribery than the Ukrainians. Russian men and women held basically
the same view on the acceptability of bribery, and so did Ukrainian men and women. Thus, gender
was not a significant demographic variable for either country. Older people were more opposed to
bribery than younger people in both countries. Those with a higher education tended to be less
opposed to bribery. Generally, the higher the income level, the less serious bribery was viewed by
both the Russians and Ukrainians. Married people in both countries viewed bribery as more serious
than did single individuals. The religious groups most opposed to bribery in Russia were the
Orthodox and no religion groups. The Protestant group was least opposed. In Ukraine, Muslims
were most opposed, and Catholics were least opposed. Regarding employment status, the disabled
group showed the strongest opposition to bribery in Russia, while students showed the least
opposition. In Ukraine, the unemployed showed the strongest opposition while students showed the
least opposition. Between 1990 and 2017, Russian opposition to bribery has declined consistently.
Ukrainian attitudes fluctuated between 1990 and 2020. Opposition to bribery declined at first, then
increased. Regarding ethnicity, Iranians and Central Asians living in Russia showed the strongest
opposition to bribery. Russian and Ukrainians living in Ukraine have similar views on bribery.

Keywords: Bribery, values, Participants’ Age, gender, education, income, Religion, marital status, employment,
ethnic