Who suffers and how much from corruption? Evidence from firm-level data

In this article, we study firm-level determinants of corruption using a sample of 164,000 companies from 144 countries for the 2005–2020 period. We analyze two variables related to corruption: the perception of corruption as an obstacle to doing business using an ordinal logit model and actual bribe tax payments using a fractional logit model. Controlling for other factors, both sets of our empirical results show that the extent of corruption is related to the time spent dealing with regulations and inspections. We argue that firms which spend more time dealing with administrative procedures have a greater perception of corruption and are forced to make significantly higher bribe payments. Therefore, in a successful fight against corruption, it is essential to simplify administrative procedures by reducing their number and eliminating direct contacts between firms and officials.

Which Child Is Parents’ Preferred Caregiver/Listener in China?

Adult children are an important source of care providers for parents in a rapidly aging Chinese society, but we know little of which particular child is preferred by parents in time of need. Using the China Longitudinal Aging Social Survey, we investigate the factors associated with parental preference of caregivers and listeners among all his or her children. With children nested within each parent, we fit the conditional (family) fixed-effect fractional logit model. The main results for both caregivers and listeners suggest a preference for the unmarried, the oldest or the youngest, and children who have provided them with support before. Coresident children are favored in rural but not urban China. We did not find preference for sons over daughters. Neither did we find any effect of prior transfers from parents to children. Our findings shed light on the changing norms of eldercare provision in a transitioning society.

Factors affecting the intensity of nonfarm participation among ethnic minorities in Northwest Mountains, Vietnam

Purpose – Little econometric evidence exists on the determinants of nonfarm participation among ethnic minorities in Vietnam. The purpose of this paper is to examine the intensity of nonfarm participation and its correlates among ethnic minority households in Northwest Mountains – the poorest region of Vietnam. Design/methodology/approach – Factors affecting the level of nonfarm participation were examined by using a fractional logit model. In addition, regression analysis using analysis of variance models were used to compare the mean of household characteristics and assets between households with and without nonfarm employment. Findings – The study found that households depended heavily on agriculture for subsistence and their access to nonfarm employment is very limited. Households with nonfarm employment had much higher levels of education, income, assets and a much lower level of poverty than those without nonfarm participation. The intensity of nonfarm participation is positively associated with education levels, proportion of male working members and fixed assets but negatively correlated with the size of annual crop land and water surface for aquaculture. Also, the presence of nonfarm opportunities and paved roads in a commune increases the intensity of nonfarm participation for households living in that commune. Practical implications – The findings suggest that any poverty alleviation policies should aim at improving the access of ethnic minorities to education and nonfarm job opportunities. Originality/value – The study offers the first evidence of factors affecting the intensity of nonfarm participation among ethnic minorities in the study area.