Understanding the Critical Inducers of International Contractors’ Corruption

International contractors’ corruption severely threatens the transparency and sustainability of the construction industry. This study aims to identify critical inducers of international contractors’ corruption and explore their interrelationships. Leveraging the fraud diamond theory, the critical inducers were identified through the semi-systematic review, context analysis, and a two-round Delphi survey with 26 experts. Then, the cause-effect associations among the critical inducers were captured by integrating the decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL) method and the interpretive structure modeling (ISM) method. Following this hybrid approach, the corruption inducer system incorporating 12 inducers and 32 conditions was proposed. Institutional pressure and inefficient compliance management were the most critical inducers in the system. Additionally, the interrelationships among these inducers were organized into a seven-level hierarchy pattern. Intricate rules and institutional pressure were the root causes of corruption. Inadequate formal sanctions were the key node in the causal chain. Neutralization techniques and execution skills were the immediate causes of corruption. This study develops the corruption inducer system by combining theory with practice in the international construction industry. It contributes to the sparse research on corruption by clarifying the cause-effect relationships among inducers from a holistic perspective. The findings would help industry practitioners, multinational company executives, and international aspirants understand corruption comprehensively and prioritize countermeasures.