Developing a Causal Model of Administrative Corruption in Tehran Municipality Regions

The purpose of this article is to develop a causal model for corruption in Tehran Municipality as a base theory for anti-corruption policies in this agency. In order to implement this research, variables causing corruption in Tehran Municipality were identified by examining the background and relevant literature review. Following that, using exploratory factor analysis method, the extracted factors (personal and organizational) were identified in 52 organizations affiliated to the municipality and/by applying structural equation modeling, based on PLS method, the relationship and the effect level of each factor on the employees' willingness to corruption were investigated. Results show that at individual level, internal factors including ‘non-adherence to religion’, ‘non-adherence to ethics’ and ‘risk aversion’, as well as external or conditional factors including ‘economic status’, ‘perceiving inequity’, ‘inappropriate socialization" and ‘frequent communication with clients’ play a role in tendency towards corruption. At the organizational level, preventive factors such as ‘providing information and anti-corruption culture’, ‘appropriateness of supervisory mechanisms and anti-corruption measures’ and ‘transparency and accountability’ have an impact. Finally, factors which increase effectiveness including ‘unsustainable income’, ‘use of information technology’, ‘quality of  decisions’, ‘quality of enforcing laws and regulations’ and ‘meritocracy’ all can determine the emergence of corruption in the Municipality of Tehran.