Modalities and Bribe Offers: Making Sense of Post-Soviet Corruption

2020

CCSM

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PurposeThe purpose of this paper is twofold. First, the article explores an understudied side of invention commercialization–the rejection of business as something “dirty” among Russian scientists. As such, the paper contributes to the individual-level explanations of innovation promotion, hence balancing extant literature's excessive focus on institutional explanations. Second, the article suggests that Russian scientists' rejection of business is rooted in broader Russian work ethics rift between “material” and “ideational” aspects of life. As such, the paper shows how dominant collective values refract in the management practice of specific social class, i.e. of scientists.Design/methodology/approachTo analyze the rift between material and ideational aspects of Russian scientists' work, the article employs directed content analysis (DCA) of in-depth interviews with 45 Russian scholars. To address credibility bias of the research findings stemming from DCA, I further draw on the survey of existing studies, researches and polls highlighting Russian population attitudes toward the dichotomy between “material” and “ideal” realms.FindingsThis study argues that Russian scientists' likelihood of invention commercialization is positively associated with their ability to integrate in a personal psyche business and science as equally valuable facets of life.Originality/valueThe article identifies the three groups of scientists – opportunity-seekers, idealists and integrators – with different attitudes to invention commercialization. The article shows how policymakers should apply institutional incentives differently to each group of scientists to achieve higher rates of invention commercialization.

Section: Putting the Results Into Context: General Population Attitudes And Practicesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Invention commercialization among Russian scientists: bridging the gap between ideational and material realms

2020

CCSM

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“…The survey of cross-country legislation shows that almost all states actively regulating funerals have poor government effectiveness (Tajikistan, Nigeria, Swaziland, etc.). Lower government effectiveness results in state capture, weak provision of public goods (Cai et al, 2020), with concomitant high corruption (Sadigov, 2016, 2017), significant income inequality, and a deep sense of social injustice. Most probably, cleptocratic regimes with low government effectiveness, and resulting inequality and sense of social injustice, try not to irritate broader destitute population by preventing provocative displays of wealth in funeral ceremonies.…”

Section: Theories Explaining Death Costsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Death beyond the means: Funeral overspending and its government regulation around the world

Rationality and Society

2021

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While death-related household overspending is increasingly an international phenomenon with far-reaching implications, the government responses to it vary greatly throughout the world. This article offers a model of death-related overspending, including both population and governments. The analysis of data from 118 countries empirically supports the main research argument—the decline of traditional hierarchies and simultaneous ascendance of newly-affluent urbanite class, to the backdrop of collectivist society pervaded by superstitions, increase household incentives to spend on death beyond their means. State policy response depends on both the government’s ability to control vested interests and the financial cost of an average funeral.

“…First set of research points to the power of collectivist orientation and traditionalism. A major trigger for marriage overspending seems to be a traditionalist social setting attaching a high value to status/ prestige (Bristol-Rhys 2007;Jindra and Noret, 2011;Sadigov 2016Sadigov , 2018Brown et al, 2011). Mass collective gatherings like weddings are classical markets for the social-capital the outlets for communication, and hence the construction of collectively meaningful identities.…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

Household overspending on marriage: the scale of the problem and government reactions around the world

2020

IJSSP

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PurposeThe article offers an empirical investigation of the incidence and scale of household marriage overspending around the world, and the governments' reaction once the problem emerges.Design/methodology/approachThis study relies on regression analysis of open source data from legislation, mass media, and judiciary hearings for 141 countries. In Phase 1 logistic regression of cross-country large-N data is used to identify country-incidence of marriage cost escalation. In Phase 2 ordered logistic regression is used to uncover statistically significant factors that predict the probability of alternative government reactions in 87 countries which experience marriage cost escalation.FindingsIn a strong collectivist sociocultural environment, driven by informality, the rise of middle classes, combined with the decline of traditional hierarchies, and limited opportunities for economic mobility motivates households to enter emulative wedding spending, thus leading to overspending. Governments' reaction depends on available policy resources, and the economic scale of the problem.Research limitations/implicationsThe research findings suggest that rising living standards in the developing countries are more likely to escalate wedding costs, and consequently reinforce traditional values.Originality/valueAcademic literature links marriage-related overspending to armed insurgency, child marriage and decreasing state efficiency. Despite the problem's scope, existing research has not comprehensively addressed both its causes, and cross-country differences in government reactions to it. The article addresses both of the mentioned gaps, by offering a conceptual model of marriage cost escalation.