Predictors of Business Corruption in the Post-Soviet Countries' Courts: An Exploratory Analysis

The corruption was widespread in all areas of the Soviet society. The USSR collapsed in 1991, but its heritage is still rooted in the state of affairs of the post-Soviet states. This is the first quantitative study that aims to identify the predictors of the use of bribery in the post-Soviet countries’ courts to resolve business disputes. Using the Business Environment and Enterprise Performance Survey (BEEPS), the authors analyze data from over 16,000 business enterprises from 32 countries. Results suggest that those businesses that perceive practices of grey competitors and corruption in general as business obstacles are more likely to use bribes to resolve a court dispute. Furthermore, along with the general criminological notion suggesting that women commit less crime than men, the study results indicate that businesses headed by a female manager are less likely to engage in bribery to prevail in court. Study limitations and policy implications are discussed.