PhD conferral Mw. Thuy D. Nguyen, MSc.

"Firm-level Theory and Evidence of Corruption"

Key words: corruption, measures, burdens, firm growth, transnational corruption

Building on a holistic and multidisciplinary perspective, this thesis provides empirical and theoretical evidence of corruption which address three unresolved challenges in the literature on corruption. Firstly, this research provides various validation exercises in order to examine the measurement validity of cross-country corruption measures including perception-based and survey-based approaches. Secondly, this research uses the cross-country firm surveys and the instrumental variable method to identify the causal link running from firm growth to corruption burdens faced by firms.  Finally, the book develops a model of transnational corruption aiming to understand the multiplex interactions between multinationals' subsidiaries and public officials under both host-country and home-country regulations.