Petty bribery, pluralistic ignorance, and the collective action problem

Corruption in the form of bribery for access to public goods and services remains a widespread and seemingly innocuous practice which disproportionately targets the poor and helps keep them poor. Furthermore, the aggregate effects of bribery in the form of small payments erode the legitimacy of government institutions and their capacity to fairly administer public goods and services as well as protection under the law. Drawing on original evidence using social norms methodology, this research tests underlying beliefs and expectations which sustain persistent forms of bribery and draws attention to its association with pluralistic ignorance and consequent collective action problems. With examples focused on bribery in traffic law enforcement, healthcare, and education – three critical areas where bribery is often identified as an entrenched and systematic practice – this paper contributes new evidence of: i) the presence of pluralistic ignorance, a common social comparison error, in bribe-giving behaviour; ii) differing social evaluations of bribe-solicitation and finally, iii) how this context might exacerbate collective action problems. This empirical case study of Nigeria shows that even though more people are likely to be directly affected by bribery during routine interactions with public officials and institutions and many believe this practice is wrong, most people incorrectly believe that others in their community tolerate or even accept bribery behaviour.