PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to understand the role of ethical leadership and ethical culture as a safeguard against corruption.Design/methodology/approachUsing survey data from public managers in local authorities in The Netherlands, Serbia, Montenegro and the USA in a comparative study.FindingsThe USA and The Netherlands, generally, display higher levels of organizational integrity than Montenegro and Serbia. Second, the strongest effects of ethical leadership were found in Montenegro. Third, in all four countries a rule‐based approach to ethics dominated.Research limitations/implicationsIt is difficult to determine the extent to which survey participants felt free to express their true opinions. Different social values need to be included as part of any comparative analysis.Practical implicationsThe role of ethical leadership is crucial; the importance of laws and rules underpinning ethical conduct cannot be underestimated.Originality/valueThe paper contributes to the growing interest in comparative studies.

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