Corruption and religiosity: a cross-country analysis mediated by accounting quality

Abstract

This article aimed to identify the association between religiosity and corruption, mediated by accounting quality. Studies have examined the relationships between religiosity and accounting quality, religiosity and corruption, and accounting quality and corruption. No evidence was identified of the combined role of religiosity and accounting quality in corruption. The study contributes to understanding the influence of religiosity, as a social norm, on managers’ decisions, which consequently have an impact on accounting quality and corruption, thus broadening the knowledge about the mechanisms that can affect corruption. Grounded in Social Norms Theory and supported by studies on the relationship between religiosity and accounting quality, which have also been based on that theory, it was possible to discuss the influence of religiosity on managers’ decisions, with impacts on accounting quality and corruption. The sample is formed of 36 countries. To process the data from the period from 2010 to 2014, partial least squares path modeling was used. The evidence indicated that greater religiosity is associated with lower accounting quality and that, together, they are associated with greater corruption. The result can be explained by collectivism, a characteristic of more religious environments. It favors the development of collusion, which has the potential to damage accounting quality and facilitate the occurrence of corruption. In addition, more religious environments are associated with less monitoring, which can encourage the manipulation of accounting information and corruption. The study shows that the combined effect of religiosity and accounting quality in combatting corruption did not present efficiency. The evidence also enables us to evaluate the influence of religiosity, as a social norm, on managers’ decisions, with impacts on accounting quality and corruption.