Differentiating between gift giving and bribing in China: a guanxi perspective

Abstract

Although scholars have long been interested in distinguishing gift giving from bribery, the impact of the degree of guanxi between a giver and a recipient on this distinction remains unclear. Drawing on a bystander perspective, this paper investigates how people distinguish between two types of giving behavior: gift giving and bribing. In three studies, we examined how guanxi (Study 1, n = 143 Chinese students), the price of a present (Study 2, including 106 students and 55 employees), and the motivation for giving a present (Study 3, n = 33 Chinese students) influence people's perception of a present (i.e., as a gift or a bribe). The results largely supported our expectation that presents were more likely to be considered a bribe when guanxi utility was high, if the present held high economic value, and if the giving motivation was instrumental-oriented. Implications of our findings for future research and business practitioners in Chinese culture are discussed.

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“…In other words, social and cultural context may impact, to a greater or lesser extent, the specific content of counterproductive work behavior in relation to employee sustainable performance [ 52 ]. On the other hand, it could be that performing well on one’s core tasks that also abstains from counterproductive work behavior is more prominent in Western countries [ 53 ].…”

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“…The analysis indicates that, for all four dilemmas, the most significant variable was the belief about how ethical it was to pay a bribe to avoid a traffic ticket. Li et al (2022) examine the degree of guanxi (business network) between a giver and a recipient in China. The results largely supported the expectation that presents were more likely to be considered a bribe when guanxi utility was high.…”

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“…[27] Consequently, guanxi is fundamentally different from bribery --guanxi is a normal interpersonal relationship, whereas bribery is an illegal transaction. [28] Primarily, bribery is driven by profit and is more direct and specific than guanxi, and cares more about gaining or losing interests and lacking emotional communication. [29] Therefore, guanxi does not equate to an unethical network of relationships per se.…”