Title: Detection of white-collar corruption in public procurement in Norway: the role of whistleblowers

Authors: Petter Gottschalk; Christy Smith

Addresses: Department of Leadership and Organizational Behavior, BI Norwegian Business School, Nydalsveien 37, 0484 Oslo, Norway ' Department of Public Administration, Henry C. Lee College of Criminal Justice and Forensic Science, University of New Haven, West Haven, CT 06516, USA

Abstract: There is a low risk of detection for white-collar criminals in most nations. White-collar criminals in public procurement corruption are probably no exception. Public procurement appears particularly vulnerable to corruption despite the multitude of policies and procedures that most public organisations have in place to ensure proper stewardship of public funds. While these mechanisms are designed to control and make transparent the procurement process, corruption has been inherent in public procurement since governments first began buying goods and services. This article presents the topics of white-collar crime, public procurement corruption, and detection by whistleblowers. Based on a sample of 390 convicted white-collar criminals in Norway from 2009 to 2014, this article explores sources of detection with an emphasis on whistleblowing. It seems that whistleblowers are the single most important source of detection. Based on conflict theory, there is a need to strengthen the role of whistleblowers and prevent them from revenge and retaliation.

Keywords: public corruption; whistleblowing; crime detection; social conflict theory; white-collar corruption; public procurement; Norway; whistleblowers; crime detection.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPM.2016.077703

International Journal of Procurement Management, 2016 Vol.9 No.4, pp.427 - 443

Received: 10 Mar 2015
Accepted: 02 May 2015
Published online: 13 Jul 2016 *

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