Gender and corruption: examining the nexus in MENA countries using PMG-ARDL approach

ABSTRACT This paper investigates the relationship between gender and corruption in thirteen Middle East and North African (MENA) countries during 2006–2020. We find a poor performance in terms of both corruption and the lack of involvement of women in public life, with a correlation between these two phenomena in the region. Due to the presence of cross-sectional dependence and heterogeneity in the panel, we employed second-generation econometric panel unit root and cointegration tests. Using the ARDL-PMG approach, which is categorised as an error-corrected model, we demonstrate that greater involvement of women in the economic and political sphere is associated with lower levels of corruption. The results also indicate that the link between corruption and gender is dependent on the context and institutional factors. The role of democracy and political stability in explaining this interaction is particularly important, especially when women are well-represented in decision-making positions. Finally, we provide evidence that improved gender equality can strengthen the connection between greater involvement of women in public life, and more success in tackling corruption. Greater gender egalitarianism can break down the male-dominated network of corruption that is widespread in MENA countries.