Investigating the Motives of Corruption and Fraud in Human Behaviors from the Perspective of Behavioral Economics (Looking at Perspective Theory)

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Department of Economics, Alborz Campus, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.

2 Department of Interdisciplinary Economics, Faculty of Economics, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.

10.22059/jte.2025.389631.1008978

Abstract

Today, cheating behavior has become a negative phenomenon and a habit that is related to corruption and can affect various economic indicators of society. Therefore, the present study was designed to investigate the motivations of corruption and cheating in human behavior from the perspective of behavioral economics with prospect theory. The methodology of this study was based on behavioral economics and was experimental. The statistical population of the study included all undergraduate students of Tehran University of Economics in the academic year 1402-1403, from which 80 people were selected purposively and randomly assigned to two intervention groups (39 people) and control (41 people). Two-factor analysis of variance with SPSS version 25 software was used to analyze the data. Accordingly, the results of the main effect of profit-loss and the main effect of intervention on dishonest behavior (cheating) were not significant. In other words, there is no significant difference between the average of dishonest behavior (cheating) in the profit and loss conditions and in the probability of crime detection and control groups. However, the results of the two-factor analysis of variance showed that the interactive effect of intervention (probability of crime detection) and profit on dishonest behavior (fraud) was significant. So that in the profit condition, the average fraud during the probability of crime detection was higher than the control group, and in the loss condition, the average fraud during the probability of crime detection was lower than the control group. Therefore, implementing better prevention strategies can create a cleaner, more transparent, and more accountable environment, which ultimately strengthens the organization's credibility and reduces the risk of fraud and corruption.

Keywords

References

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Journal of Economic Research (Tahghighat- E- Eghtesadi)
Volume 60, Issue 2
September 2025
Pages 984-1015

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History

  • Receive Date: 29 January 2025
  • Revise Date: 02 August 2025
  • Accept Date: 17 August 2025

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