Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Goffman’s Return to Las Vegas: Studying Corruption as Social Interaction

  • Published:
Journal of Business Ethics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In this paper, we argue that corruption research can benefit from studying corrupt transactions as a particular form of social interaction. We showcase the usefulness of a theoretical focus on social interaction by investigating online user reports on the website Frontdesktip.com. Through this focus, we can observe users sharing experiences and tips on the best ways of bribing hotel clerks in Las Vegas for attaining room upgrades and other complimentary extras. We employ a logistic regression analysis to examine what factors influence the “successful” performance of this bribery practice. Our study makes a twofold contribution to existing research on corruption. First, on the theoretical level, we show that the typified and scripted character of social interactions can help explain the occurrence of corrupt transactions. Second, on a methodological level, our study showcases online self-reports as a useful data source to study corrupt transactions in an unobtrusive way.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Anand, V., Ashforth, B. E., & Joshi, M. (2004). Business as usual: The acceptance and perpetuation of corruption in organizations. Academy of Management Executive, 18(2), 39–53.

    Google Scholar 

  • Argandoña, A. (2003). Private-to-private corruption. Journal of Business Ethics, 47(3), 253–267.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Argandoña, A. (2005). Corruption and companies: The use of facilitating payments. Journal of Business Ethics, 60(3), 251–264.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Armantier, O., & Boly, A. (2011). A controlled field experiment on corruption. European Economic Review, 55(8), 1072–1082.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ashforth, B. E., & Anand, V. (2003). The normalization of corruption in organizations. In R. M. Kramer & B. Staw (Eds.), Research in organizational behavior (pp. 1–52). Greenwich, CT: JAI.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ashforth, B. E., Gioia, D. A., Robinson, S. L., & Trevino, L. K. (2008). Introduction to a special topic forum: Re-viewing organizational corruption. Academy of Management Review, 33(3), 670–684.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Azar, O. H. (2007). Why pay extra? Tipping and the importance of social norms and feelings in economic theory. The Journal of Socio-Economics, 36(2), 250–265.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barley, S. R., & Tolbert, P. S. (1997). Institutionalization and structuration: Studying the links between action and institution. Organization Studies, 18(1), 93–117.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Becker, T. E., Atinc, G., Breaugh, J. A., Carlson, K. D., Edwards, J. R., & Spector, P. E. (2016). Statistical control in correlational studies: 10 essential recommendations for organizational researchers. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 37(2), 157–167.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bernardi, R. A., Delorey, E. L., LaCross, C. C., & Waite, R. A. (2003). Evidence of social desirability response bias in ethics research: An international study. Journal of Applied Business Research, 19(3), 42–52.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bernerth, J. B., & Aguinis, H. (2016). A critical review and best-practice recommendations for control variable usage. Personnel Psychology, 69(1), 229–283.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bertrand, M., Djankov, S., Hanna, R., & Mullainathan, S. (2007). Obtaining a driver’s license in India: An experimental approach to studying corruption. The Quarterly Journal of Economics, 122(4), 1639–1676.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Blundo, G. (2007). Hidden acts, open talks. How anthropology can “observe” and describe corruption. In M. Nuijten & G. Anders (Eds.), Corruption and the secret of law. A legal anthropological perspective (pp. 27–53). Farnham: Ashgate.

    Google Scholar 

  • Blundo, G., & de Sardan, J. P. O. (2006). Everyday corruption and the state: Citizens and public officials in Africa. London: Zed Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bondy, K., Matten, D., & Moon, J. (2008). Multinational corporation codes of conduct: Governance tools for corporate social responsibility? Corporate Governance: An International Review, 16(4), 294–311.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Breit, E. (2010). On the (re)construction of corruption in the media: A critical discursive approach. Journal of Business Ethics, 92(4), 619–635.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2013). Local area unemployment statistics (Series ID: LAUMT32298203). Retrieved from http://data.bls.gov/timeseries/LAUMT32298203?data_tool=Xgtable.

  • Butterfield, K. D., Treviño, L. K., & Weaver, G. R. (2000). Moral awareness in business organizations: Influences of issue-related and social context factors. Human Relations, 53(7), 981–1018.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Clair, J. A., Beatty, J. E., & MacLean, T. L. (2005). Out of sight but not out of mind: Managing invisible social identities in the workplace. Academy of Management Review, 30(1), 78–95.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Clark, B. T., & Allen, D. W. (2004). Political economy and the adoption of everyday environmental policies in the American states: An exploratory analysis. The Social Science Journal, 41(4), 525–542.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cleek, M. A., & Leonard, S. L. (1998). Can corporate codes of ethics influence behavior? Journal of Business Ethics, 17(6), 619–630.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cole, S., & Ahn, T. (2011). Evidence from the firm: A new approach to understanding corruption. In S. Rose-Ackerman & T. Søreide (Eds.), The international handbook on the economics of corruption (pp. 408–427). Cheltenham: Edward Elgar.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cressey, D. R. (1953). Other people’s money; a study of the social psychology of embezzlement. New York: Free Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Crowley, P. J. (2012). The rise of transparency and the decline of secrecy in the age of global and social media. Penn State International Law Review, 1(2), 241–390.

    Google Scholar 

  • Davis, J. H., & Ruhe, J. A. (2003). Perceptions of country corruption: Antecedents and outcomes. Journal of Business Ethics, 43(4), 275–288.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Della Porta, D., & Vannucci, A. (2012). The hidden order of corruption: An institutional approach. Farnham: Ashgate.

    Google Scholar 

  • Den Nieuwenboer, N. A., & Kaptein, M. (2008). Spiraling down into corruption: A dynamic analysis of the social identity processes that cause corruption in organizations to grow. Journal of Business Ethics, 83(2), 133–146.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dorminey, J., Fleming, A. S., Kranacher, M. J., & Riley, R. A, Jr. (2012). The evolution of fraud theory. Issues in Accounting Education, 27(2), 555–579.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fine, G. A., & Manning, P. (2003). Erving Goffman. In G. Ritzer (Ed.), The Blackwell companion to major contemporary social theorists (pp. 34–62). Malden, MA: Blackwell.

    Google Scholar 

  • Getz, K. A., & Volkema, R. J. (2001). Culture, perceived corruption, and economics: A model of predictors and outcomes. Business and Society, 40(1), 7–30.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Goffman, E. (1955). On face-work: An analysis of ritual elements in social interaction. Psychiatry, 18, 213–231.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Goffman, E. (1963). Stigma: Notes on the management of spoiled identity. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall.

    Google Scholar 

  • Goffman, E. (1969). Where the action is: Three essays. London: Penguin.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gomez, P. Y., & Jones, B. C. (2000). Conventions: An interpretation of deep structure in organizations. Organization Science, 11(6), 696–708.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Halter, M. V., De Arruda, M. C. C., & Halter, R. B. (2009). Transparency to reduce corruption? Journal of Business Ethics, 84(3), 373–385.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hammersley, M., & Atkinson, P. (2007). Ethnography: Principles in practice. New York: Routledge.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Heath, J. (2006). Business ethics without stakeholders. Business Ethics Quarterly, 16(4), 533–557.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hollinger, R. D., Slora, K. B., & Terris, W. (1992). Deviance in the fast-food restaurant: Correlates of employee theft, altruism, and counterproductivity. Deviant Behavior, 13(2), 155–184.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • HVS. (2012). HVS Las Vegas casino and hotel market outlook 2012. Retrieved from http://www.hvs.com/Content/3226.pdf.

  • Jagd, S. (2007). Economics of convention and new economic sociology: Mutual inspiration and dialogue. Current Sociology, 55(1), 75–91.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • James, H. S. (2002). When is a bribe a bribe: Teaching a workable definition of bribery. Teaching Business Ethics, 6(2), 199–217.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jancsics, D. (2013). Petty corruption in Central and Eastern Europe: the client’s perspective. Crime, Law and Social Change, 60(3), 319–341.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jancsics, D. (2014). Interdisciplinary perspectives on corruption. Sociology Compass, 8(4), 358–372.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jex, S. M., & Gudanowski, D. M. (1992). Efficacy beliefs and work stress: An exploratory study. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 13(5), 509–517.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ketokivi, M., & Mantere, S. (2010). Two strategies for inductive reasoning in organizational research. Academy of Management Review, 35(2), 315–333.

    Google Scholar 

  • Konchar, S. (2014). The 2012 Libor scandal: An analysis of the lack of institutional oversight and incentives to deter manipulation of the world’s most important number. Transnational Law & Contemporary Problems, 23, 173–197.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kulik, B. W., O’Fallon, M. J., & Salimath, M. S. (2008). Do competitive environments lead to the rise and spread of unethical behavior? Parallels from Enron. Journal of Business Ethics, 83(4), 703–723.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lambsdorff, J. G. (2006). Measuring corruption: The validity and precision of subjective indicators. In C. J. Sampford, A. Shacklock, C. Connors, & F. Galtung (Eds.), Measuring corruption (pp. 81–100). Farnham: Ashgate.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lambsdorff, J. G., & Frank, B. (2011). Corrupt reciprocity: Experimental evidence on a men’s game. International Review of Law and Economics, 31(2), 116–125.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lindstedt, C., & Naurin, D. (2010). Transparency is not enough: Making transparency effective in reducing corruption. International Political Science Review, 31(3), 301–322.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Luhmann, N. (1992). What is communication? Communication Theory, 2(3), 251–259.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Martinez, A., & Williams, C. C. (2014). Explaining cross-national variations in tax morality in the European Union: an exploratory analysis. Studies of Transition States and Societies, 6(1), 5–18.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mocan, N. (2008). What determines corruption? International evidence from microdata. Economic Inquiry, 46(4), 493–510.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Morales, J., Gendron, Y., & Guénin-Paracini, H. (2014). The construction of the risky individual and vigilant organization: A genealogy of the fraud triangle. Accounting, Organizations and Society, 39(3), 170–194.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Olken, B., & Barron, P. (2009). The simple economics of extortion: Evidence from trucking in Aceh. Journal of Political Economy, 117(3), 417–452.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Petrillose, M. J., & Brewer, K. P. (2012). An exploration of customer retention factors in Las Vegas casino resort properties. UNLV Gaming Research & Review Journal, 5(2), 1–14.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rabl, T. (2011). The impact of situational influences on corruption in organizations. Journal of Business Ethics, 100(1), 85–101.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rabl, T. (2012). Do contextual factors matter? An investigation of ethical judgments of corrupt acts. Journal of Business Economics, 82(6), 5–32.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Seidl, D. (2005). Organization and interaction. In D. Seidl & K. H. Becker (Eds.), Niklas Luhmann and organization studies (pp. 145–170). Copenhagen: Copenhagen Business School Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sequeira, S. (2012). Advances in measuring corruption in the field. In D. Serra & L. Wantchekon (Eds.), New advances in experimental research on corruption (pp. 145–175). Bingley: Emerald.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Simmons, J. R. (1999). Altruistic corruption: The Downsian bureaucrats revisited. Administrative Theory & Praxis, 21(3), 265–279.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Svensson, J. (2003). Who must pay bribes and how much? Quarterly Journal of Economics, 118(1), 207–230.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Toffler, B. L. (2003). Final accounting: Ambition, greed, and the fall of Arthur Andersen. New York: Broadway Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Torfason, M. T., Flynn, F. J., & Kupor, D. (2013). Here is a tip: Prosocial gratuities are linked to corruption. Social Psychological and Personality Science, 4(3), 348–354.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Torsello, D., & Venard, B. (2016). The anthropology of corruption. Journal of Management Inquiry, 25(1), 34–54.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Udoidem, I. (1987). Tips in business transaction: A moral issue. Journal of Business Ethics, 6(8), 613–618.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vásquez, C., Schoeneborn, D., & Sergi, V. (2016). Summoning the spirits: Organizational texts and the (dis)ordering properties of communication. Human Relations, 69(3), 629–659.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Venard, B. (2009). Organizational isomorphism and corruption: An empirical research in Russia. Journal of Business Ethics, 89(1), 59–76.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Venard, B., & Hanafi, M. (2008). Organizational isomorphism and corruption in financial institutions: Empirical research in emerging countries. Journal of Business Ethics, 81(2), 481–498.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Warburton, J. (2001). Corruption as a social process: From dyads to networks. In P. Larmour & N. Wolanin (Eds.), Corruption and anti-corruption (pp. 221–237). Canberra: Asia-Pacific.

    Google Scholar 

  • Weber, J., & Wasieleski, D. (2001). Investigating influences on managers’ moral reasoning: The impact of context and personal and organizational factors. Business and Society, 40(1), 79–110.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

We thank Michael Etter, Patrick Haack, Merrill Jones Barradale, Hans Krause Hansen, Katja Rost, Andreas G. Scherer, Arne Robert Weiss, Glen Whelan, and Peter Winkler for their fruitful comments and suggestions regarding earlier versions. We owe special gratitude to Roland Stettler for his generous and invaluable assistance with data collection and analysis in the initial stages of this research project. Furthermore, we are grateful for the helpful research support provided by Joyce Costello and Jordan Vincent. Portions of this research were funded by the Research Council of Norway (project “Fair Labor in the Digitized Economy” at BI Business School, Oslo), the Danish Council for Strategic Research (project “Responsible Business in the Blogosphere” at Copenhagen Busines School) as well as the “Governing Responsible Business” (GRB) Research Environment at Copenhagen Business School.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Copenhagen Business School, Frederiksberg, Denmark

    Dennis Schoeneborn

  2. Southampton Business School, Southampton, UK

    Fabian Homberg

Authors
  1. Dennis Schoeneborn
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Fabian Homberg
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Dennis Schoeneborn.

Additional information

Our focus on Erving Goffman’s sociology of social interactions also has a particular fit to the empirical context of our study, i.e., the Las Vegas hotels and casino business. This is because, in addition to his very prolific academic career, Goffman used to work as a blackjack dealer and later as a pit boss at the Station Plaza Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada (see Fine and Manning 2003, p. 36). Hence, figuratively speaking, our study allows Goffman to “return” to the Las Vegas hotel and casino context that he had also studied in (auto-)ethnographic form (Goffman 1969).

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Schoeneborn, D., Homberg, F. Goffman’s Return to Las Vegas: Studying Corruption as Social Interaction. J Bus Ethics 151, 37–54 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-016-3245-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-016-3245-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation