Corruption erodes people's beliefs in morality and justice

In this research, we argue that corruption adversely affects individuals' perceived morality of politicians and their sense of justice, eroding some key values by which societies are guided. We further analyzed how the erosion of these key values might be negatively associated with people's well-being. We found support for our contentions through multiple studies, including a cross-national study comprising 82 countries surveyed over 32 years (Study 1, n = 210,207). This large-scale study was further supported by two experimental studies (Studies 2 and 3, n = 449) elucidating the mechanisms and causality involved in these processes. Our findings showed that corruption leads individuals to ascribe lower morality to politicians, which in turn is associated with lower perceptions of justice. Our data show that this process is negatively associated with well-being, contributing to a broader understanding of how corruption impacts individuals and societies.