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Investigating the Effectiveness of Response Strategies for Vulnerabilities to Corruption in the Chinese Public Construction Sector

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Abstract

Response strategy is a key for preventing widespread corruption vulnerabilities in the public construction sector. Although several studies have been devoted to this area, the effectiveness of response strategies has seldom been evaluated in China. This study aims to fill this gap by investigating the effectiveness of response strategies for corruption vulnerabilities through a survey in the Chinese public construction sector. Survey data obtained from selected experts involved in the Chinese public construction sector were analyzed by factor analysis and partial least squares-structural equation modeling. Analysis results showed that four response strategies of leadership, rules and regulations, training, and sanctions, only achieved an acceptable level in preventing corruption vulnerabilities in the Chinese public construction sector. This study contributes to knowledge by improving the understanding of the effectiveness of response strategies for corruption vulnerabilities in the public construction sector of developing countries.

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Acknowledgments

This study is funded by the Joint PhD program between The Hong Kong Polytechnic University and Tongji University, and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant code: 71172107; 71390523). Dr. K. N. Jha and Dr. S.Z.S. Tabish at Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi are acknowledged for permitting us the use of their questionnaire instrument. All professionals involved in the survey are also acknowledged for their participation in the survey. Thanks also go to the Department of Building and Real Estate at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, as well as the Research Institute of Complex Engineering and Management at the School of Economics and Management, Tongji University, for providing support to perform this research study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research Institute of Complex Engineering and Management, School of Economics and Management, Tongji University, 9F, Tongji Building, 1 Zhangwu Road, Shanghai, 200092, China

    Ming Shan & Yun Le

  2. Department of Building and Real Estate, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Jiulong, Hong Kong, China

    Ming Shan, Albert P. C. Chan & Yi Hu

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  1. Ming Shan
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Correspondence to Yun Le.

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Shan, M., Chan, A.P.C., Le, Y. et al. Investigating the Effectiveness of Response Strategies for Vulnerabilities to Corruption in the Chinese Public Construction Sector. Sci Eng Ethics 21, 683–705 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11948-014-9560-x

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