Effects of Everyday Corruption on Perceptions of Authoritarian Leadership: Evidence from North Korea.

This study analyzes the impact of everyday corruption in North Korea on perceptions of authoritarian leadership. Analyzing survey data from North Korean defectors, we find that experience with everyday corruption does not affect perceptions of the Supreme Leader’s responsibility for economic difficulties, but it does negatively affect perceptions of the Party leadership’s responsibility. This suggests that widespread petty corruption is unlikely to be a source of dissatisfaction with the system as a whole and with the Supreme Leader. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]