Understanding Attitudes Toward Corruption in Indonesia: Regional Disparities and the Role of Education

Corruption remains a significant challenge in Indonesia, undermining governance, economic development, and public trust. This study adopts a survey-based approach to assess the attitudes towards corruption within Indonesian society, focusing on tolerance levels, public knowledge about corruption, and how these factors intersect with demographics such as region, education, and income. A nationwide survey drew responses from 1,060 participants across Indonesia’s Western, Central, and Eastern regions, representing diverse educational backgrounds (senior high school, undergraduate, and postgraduate levels). Findings reveal regional disparities in corruption tolerance, with the Western region displaying significantly lower tolerance than the Central and Eastern regions. Notably, individuals in the Western region exhibit greater knowledge of corruption and its legal consequences. Furthermore, the study identifies a negative correlation between knowledge levels and tolerance for corrupt behaviour, with higher education and income levels linked to reduced acceptance of corruption. This research contributes to Indonesia’s anti-corruption discourse by providing empirical evidence on how demographic and knowledge factors shape attitudes towards corruption. The findings underscore the importance of targeted anti-corruption education, particularly in regions with higher tolerance levels, as a critical policy measure. Targeting these regional and demographic disparities enables policymakers to create more effective anti-corruption strategies that foster a culture of integrity and resilience against corruption across Indonesia.