Causes and Consequences of Corruption in Schools: The Role of Prevention and Control Promoted by Leaders’ Moral Impetus

We explored the moderated mediating effect of the causes of corruption in schools on its consequences through prevention and control promoted by leaders’ moral impetus. We surveyed 81 Taiwanese elementary and secondary schools; 1,024 school principals, administrative staff, teachers, and parents completed valid questionnaires, which we analyzed using structural equation modeling. Corruption prevention and control promoted by leaders’ moral impetus partially mediated the relationship between the causes and consequences of corruption. Plundering (non-criminal form) increased and law-breaking behavior (criminal form) weakened the intensity of corruption prevention and control promoted by leaders’ moral impetus. Educational leaders should use moral leadership to decrease plundering and establish whistleblowing mechanisms on social media to support corruption prevention and control to hinder law-breaking behaviors.