Abstract

Anti-corruption reforms introduced in Latin America in the last decade require active citizenry. In particular, efforts to strengthen transparency laws assume citizens are able to identify, condemn, and denounce corrupt acts. Thus, tolerance of corruption among citizens is problematic for these institutions. Using data from the International Civic and Citizenship Education Study (ICCS) 2016, this chapter analyzes which students are at higher risk of tolerating corruption and address how schools may promote the endorsement of anticorruption norms. A series of multilevel models were used to predict tolerance of corruption. The main findings suggest that civic knowledge and endorsement of authoritarianism are the main predictors of tolerance of corruption among students, accounting for 49% of the variance at the population level. In multilevel models, open classroom discussion is negatively related to tolerance of corruption. However, once civic knowledge is entered into the model, the relationship seems to be indirect. This chapter discusses how promoting open classroom discussion and civic knowledge in schools may prevent tolerance of corruption.