Perception of Corruption in 36 Major Chinese Cities: Based on Survey of 1,642 Experts

Perception surveys remain an important tool to measure corruption. However, most existing perception surveys only analyze corruption at the national or international level, and do not provide information about corruption at local levels. But it is corruption in local areas that really influences the everyday life of ordinary people. In order to redress this lacuna, the authors developed an expert survey to measure corruption in 36 major Chinese cities, using a questionnaire that included 11 key questions about different aspects of urban corruption. This study, as the first of its kind in China, has demonstrated the great regional disparity in terms of corruption perception in the country. It has also pointed to the weaknesses of China??s anti-corruption system.