Are women less corrupt than men? Evidence from Ghana

The question as to whether women are less corrupt than men has been the focal point of an intense and ongoing debate. While some studies show that women are more risk-averse than men-and, as a result, less likely to engage in corruption-others point to the contrary. This study aims to answer two key questions: (1) are women more or less likely than men to engage in bribery? And (2) are women more or less likely than men to believe that one can report corruption without retaliation? Our results show that, compared to men, women are less likely to offer bribes, and they are also less likely to believe that one can report corruption without retaliation. Since women are less likely to engage in bribery, it is recommended that women's representation in positions of power be increased.