Corruption and Its Effect on Political Trust in Developing Countries

Abstract

This study investigates the relationship between corruption and political trust in developing countries through a mixed-methods approach combining large-scale survey data with in-depth qualitative interviews. The quantitative analysis revealed a consistent and significant negative association between perceived corruption and levels of political trust, with regression and hierarchical linear models confirming corruption as a strong predictor of declining institutional confidence. Mediation tests further indicated that income inequality and social exclusion amplify corruption’s impact on trust, while demographic factors such as gender, age, and rural–urban residence shape the degree of vulnerability. Specifically, women, younger populations, and urban residents exhibited greater distrust in high-corruption contexts compared to other groups. Qualitative findings reinforced these results, as participants described daily encounters with bribery, elite capture, and clientelism as systemic features eroding faith in governance. Respondents also differentiated between petty corruption, often tolerated as a survival mechanism, and grand corruption, which was perceived as a direct betrayal of democratic accountability. Figures and tables illustrated these patterns through descriptive statistics, regression outcomes, and comparative subgroup analyses, consistently showing that higher levels of corruption correspond with diminished trust across contexts. Collectively, the results demonstrate that corruption undermines political legitimacy not only by weakening formal institutional credibility but also by fueling perceptions of inequality and exclusion. The study concludes that combating corruption in developing countries requires multidimensional strategies that strengthen accountability, reduce inequality, and empower citizens to critically engage with governance, thereby restoring political trust and supporting sustainable democratic development.