Disaggregating Corruption: A Comparison of Participation and Perceptions in Latin America with a Focus on Mexico1

An abundant empirical literature on corruption relying on survey research has emerged since the mid‐1990s. The predominant line of inquiry concerns perceptions of corruption with respect to institutions and processes. Another, separate line of inquiry that has enjoyed less attention concerns reports about individuals’ participation in corruption. These two dimensions of corruption, however, are typically conflated, leading to error and confusion. This article explores the relationship between the two and seeks to differentiate the two. Using data at the country and individual levels, analysis shows how the two may be only weakly related to one another – though causality remains unclear – and respond to distinct sets of determinants and generate distinct outcomes. The analysis underlines the need to specify the findings in the literature: that the causes and consequences of corruption relate more to ‘perceived’ corruption rather than actual corruption.     

DELINQUENCY AMONG WIND RIVER INDIAN RESERVATION YOUTH

Little research has been conducted on delinquency among American Indian youth. The present study reports the results of an intensive investigation of the officially recognized and recorded delinquency involvement of Indian youth living on the Wind River Reservation in Wyoming. Findings indicate: (1) a relatively high rate of official delinquency involvement; (2) that a high percentage of charges were for rather minor offenses; and (3) that a high percentage of charges were for alcohol-related offenses     

A SELF-REPORT COMPARISON OF INDIAN AND ANGLO DELINQUENCY IN WYOMING

Previous studies, including those of Wind River Indian Reservation youth, indicate that native American adolescents have a relatively high rate of official delinquency involvement, Official rates may reflect, however, not only the actual incidence of delinquent behavior, but also other factors such as the manner in which the law is enforced. The findings of the present study are based on a self-report type questionnaire administered to students attending two high schools in the Wind River Indian Reservation area of Wyoming. The data point to little overall difference in the delinquent behavior of Indian and Anglo males, with the exception of a greater involvement of Indian males in delinquent activities centering around the school. The Indian female, however, appears to be considerably more involved than her Anglo counterpart in running away from home and in a variety of offenses centering around the school, theft, vandalism, and assault. When social class is controlled, there is a substantial reduction in the number of offenses for which there are significant differences between the two races, although a few differences are found on particular class levels which do not obtain for the sample as a whole.