CORRUPTION AND PERFORMANCE WHEELS IN MERCOSUR

Authors

  • Lauro Vinício de Almeida Lima UFPB
  • Maria Audenora Rufino UEPB
  • Paulo Amilton Maia Leite Filho UFPB
  • Márcia Reis Machado UFPB

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22561/cvr.v32i1.5984

Keywords:

Corruption, Performance, Economic-financial, Theory of grease on wheels, Mercosur

Abstract

Based on the Wheel Grease Theory, the study took into account the possibility that corruption may favor corporate economic performance as it unties the bureaucracy and reduces corporate transactional costs. Thus, the research was aimed at investigating, in Mercosur countries, the reflection of the society's perception about public sector corruption in the economic performance of companies. In a quantitative approach, the research sample consisted of 8 Mercosur member countries, between 2010 and 2017, with a total of 667 companies and 4,812 observations. Data were estimated using a fixed effects panel regression model. The dependent variable was the perception of corruption in the public sector (IPC) and the independent variables were the measures of ROE, ROA and EBIT performance. The results found lead to the understanding that a greater perception of corruption in Mercosur countries increases the economic performance of companies in those countries. The empirical evidence found adds new sparks to the argumentative construct in which the Wheel Grease Theory is guided, thereby fostering strong ethical struggles, imposing a broad discussion on public anti-corruption policies in the world, and corruption to society in a systemic way, and it is possible that these consequences hit other countries or economic blocs beyond Mercosur.

Author Biographies

Lauro Vinício de Almeida Lima, UFPB

Doutor pelo Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Contábeis – PPGCC/UFPB, Universidade Federal da Paraíba.

Maria Audenora Rufino, UEPB

Doutoranda pelo Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Contábeis – PPGCC/UFPB, professora assistente da Universidade Federal de Sergipe.

Paulo Amilton Maia Leite Filho , UFPB

Doutor em Economia pela Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, UFPE, Professor do PPGCC/UFPB, Universidade Federal da Paraíba.

Márcia Reis Machado, UFPB

Pós-Doutura em Educação Contábil pela Griffith University, Doutora em Ciências Contábeis pela USP, Professora Adjunta da UFPB - Universidade Federal da Paraíba.

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Published

2021-03-02

How to Cite

LIMA, L. V. de A. .; RUFINO, M. A.; LEITE FILHO , P. A. M. .; MACHADO, M. R. . CORRUPTION AND PERFORMANCE WHEELS IN MERCOSUR. Contabilidade Vista & Revista, [S. l.], v. 32, n. 1, p. 247–265, 2021. DOI: 10.22561/cvr.v32i1.5984. Disponível em: https://revistas.face.ufmg.br/index.php/contabilidadevistaerevista/article/view/5984. Acesso em: 25 dec. 2025.