Corruption and subjective well-being in Africa and Latin America and the Caribbean

Purpose This study aims to examine how corruption is associated with subjective well-being by distinguishing personal bribery experiences from the broader regional corruption environment. Design/methodology/approach This study uses Afrobarometer Round 8 and the 2014 Americas Barometer to examine 849 subnational regions across Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean. This study analyzes the association between subjective well-being and two dimensions of corruption: individual bribery experiences and regional corruption intensity. The models account for individual and regional economic conditions. Additional analyses examine sector-specific corruption and gender differences. Findings Higher regional corruption intensity is consistently associated with lower subjective well-being, even after accounting for economic conditions. In Africa, regional corruption is associated with lower well-being, whereas individual bribery is not significantly associated with well-being, with administrative corruption showing the clearest sector-specific association. Originality/value This study contributes to research on corruption and well-being by distinguishing individual bribery exposure from the wider regional corruption environment. This study shows that corruption matters as not only a personal experience but also a contextual governance condition that shapes citizens’ daily lives. This study offers a more nuanced account of how corruption is linked to subjective well-being and highlights why subnational, sector-specific and gender-sensitive approaches matter.