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Electoral Donations as Legal Bribes: Evidence from a Survey of Private Corporations in Colombia

NCJ Number
245179
Journal
International Journal of Criminology and Sociology Volume: 1 Dated: 2012 Pages: 162-175
Author(s)
Nubia Evertsson
Date Published
2012
Length
14 pages
Annotation
This article examines why companies give electoral donations to support political leaders.
Abstract
In this article the author studies why companies give electoral donations to support political leaders. The author collected and used a unique dataset on electoral financing at the corporate level in Colombia. The data show that firms consider electoral contributions to be 'legal bribes'. Consistent with the theory of bribery, these donations are made because of the low quality of election regulation, the high expectation of reciprocity, and the pre-existing relationships with incumbents. These features suggest 'legal neutralization': donors can break the law without committing crime. (Published Abstract)