Comparative Case Study on Economic and Financial Crime in Germany and Romania

Abstract

With the scientific work, a contribution is made to the investigation of the perception of economic and financial crime in Germany and Romania. With a survey in 2022 in the respective country with 1742 answers from Germany and 1856 answers from Romania, a statistically relevant database could be created. Using the chi-square model and intensity scoring in conjunction with the survey, the results show that there are some similarities in terms of the influence of education and age. Occupation exerts only a partial influence. Gender, in turn, does not show a specific pattern of behavior. The results also show different levels of tax honesty and tax morality, which can be explained by the fact that the Romanian government provides incentives for earlier payment of taxes. It also became clear that the level of corruption in Romania is almost twice as high as in Germany. These comparative analyses reflect the importance of the role that education plays in building high tax morale and tax compliance. Improving the educational system and the general education of citizens through various information campaigns and presenting the negative consequences of economic and financial crimes can be an important way to reduce the prevalence of illegal activities.

Appendix

Questionnaire

Thank you for participating in the questionnaire on the subject of perceptions of economic and financial crime in Germany. By answering the following questions, you will help the community better understand the current sentiment and gather future action for government, organizations, or many others.

• 1. Regarding paying your tax duties, which one of the following behaviors is common for you and the people around you:

  • (a) Taxes are paid long before the deadline

  • (b) Taxes are paid very close to the deadline

  • (c) Taxes are paid over the deadline

• 2. When you buy goods and services from shops, restaurants, hotels, salons, etc., please choose one or more of the following that better fit you:

  • (a) Always receiving the receipt

  • (b) Usually receiving the receipt

  • (c) Always asking for the receipt

  • (d) Receiving the receipt but leave it there

  • (e) Not bothered by not receiving the receipt

• 3. How do you perceive the level of corruption in German public institutions, on a scale from 1 (very low) to 5 (very high)? Please choose one of the following:

  • (a) Very low level of corruption

  • (b) Low level of corruption

  • (c) Medium level of corruption

  • (d) High level of corruption

  • (e) Very high level of corruption

• 4. Regarding the risk of money laundering, do you think that people have suitable knowledge to be able to recognize a suspicious transaction in a business? Please choose one of the following:

  • (a) Very low skills to detect the risk of money laundering in a business

  • (b) Low skills to detect the risk of money laundering in a business

  • (c) Medium skills to detect the risk of money laundering in a business

  • (d) High skills to detect the risk of money laundering in a business

  • (e) Very high skills to detect the risk of money laundering in a business

• 5. When you or the people around you ask for bank transactions (making a bank deposit, withdrawing cash from the account, etc.), and the bank officer asks you to complete some details regarding the provenience of the money, or where the amount goes, then you or the people around you generally have different reactions. To help us analyze your responses, please indicate which of the following categories represents you best.

  • (a) You offer any required details; banks must apply their “know your clients” principle to do their job.

  • (b) You are bothered by the asked details but finally you provide the required information.

  • (c) You refuse to offer any asked details; banks have to satisfy the people’s needs that’s all.

• 6. How old are you? Choose one of the following categories:

  • (a) Between 16 and 25 years old

  • (b) Between 26 and 35 years old

  • (c) Between 36 and 45 years old

  • (d) Between 46 and 55 years old

  • (e) Between 56 and 65 years old

  • (f) Over 65 years old

• 7. Which is your gender? Choose one of the following:

  • (a) Male

  • (b) Female

  • (c) Other

• 8. Which is your professional status? Choose one or more of the following:

  • (a) Student

  • (b) Employed

  • (c) Manager

  • (d) Unemployed

  • (e) Retired

• 9. Which is your last level of acquired degree? Choose one of the following:

  • (a) High school graduate diploma or less

  • (b) Bachelor studies

  • (c) Master studies

  • (d) Doctoral studies

  • (e) Postdoctoral studies

Thank you for making it to the end of this short survey.