Abstract: Governments must fight corruption to maintain legitimacy. However, anti-corruption campaigns do not necessarily convince citizens that corruption is less prevalent. This study analyzes how variations in the content of anti-corruption information reported in the media affect perceptions of corruption. We conduct a survey experiment in China and find that information about corruption cases, which is often sensational and thus disseminates rapidly, may have a negative impact on public perceptions of corruption by exposing more corruption. By contrast, information on routine anti-corruption work, which is less dramatic, may positively influence perceptions of corruption. This study advances our understanding of corruption perceptions and has practical implications for controlling and preventing the practice.

Keywords: PERFORMANCE INFORMATION；AUTHORITARIAN RULE；MEDIA；REFORM；WILLINGNESS；GOVERNMENT；OPINION；NEWS

原文刊载于：CHINA REVIEW-AN INTERDISCIPLINARY JOURNAL ON GREATER CHINA，MAY 2022

原文链接：https://www.webofscience.com/wos/woscc/full-record/WOS:000809395200005