Corrupt collaboration

Corrupt collaboration occurs when collaboration—working together towards the achievement of mutual goals—is linked with corruption—the attainment of ungranted personal profits through the misuse of power. Corrupt collaboration exemplifies that cooperation, which is usually and naturally considered to be positive and desirable, enabling the achievement of goals and completion of tasks that are not possible when individuals act alone, also has a dark side. The work reviewed in this chapter provides evidence that collaboration is a major justification for dishonesty and examines a range of related topics including the effects of organizational settings on the nature of corrupt collaboration, endogenous partner choice, the effects of communication and exposure to the behavior of others on corrupt collaboration, cross-cultural differences, and meta-analytic results. A better understanding of corrupt collaboration can help balance the positive effects of collaboration with its potential dark side in the form of corruption.