Gender, Pro-Sociality and Corruption: Experimental Insights into Resource Allocation

Scholars agree that gender influences corruption-related behaviors, with evidence suggesting that greater gender equality is associated with reduced corruption across countries. Several theoretical frameworks offer explanations for gender differences in corruption. Alexander (2021) identifies key mechanisms, including gender role socialization, power marginalization, higher ethical standards attributed to women, and societal-level theories that suggest gender equality reduces corruption by empowering women and promoting impartial governance. Recent research has focused on the role of gender socialization in shaping corrupt practices, with social role theory suggesting that gendered behaviors, including those related to corruption, arise from distinct social roles. Women, often more pro-social and ethically driven, are generally less likely to engage in or tolerate corrupt behaviors. Empirical studies support this, highlighting that women’s relationship-oriented nature and sensitivity to social sanctions contribute to their lower levels of corruption. However, the relationship between gender and corruption is complex. Goetz (2007) challenges the view that women possess inherently higher moral standards, suggesting that access to political and public spheres also influences their susceptibility to corruption. This study aims to explore these mechanisms using social role theory and experimental economics. Two laboratory experiments conducted in Colombia will investigate whether pro-social contexts influence embezzlement decisions and whether these decisions differ by gender. The first experiment will examine whether the presence of a pro-social context (i.e., a charitable recipient) impacts participants’ decisions to engage in embezzlement, and whether gender moderates this effect. The second experiment will explore how the gender association of the pro-social context (female- vs. male-focused charity) affects embezzlement decisions. We hypothesize that females will exhibit lower levels of embezzlement, particularly in pro-social contexts that favor female recipients. The findings will inform gender-sensitive anti-corruption policies, especially in the Global South.