What Kind of Area is More Corrupt: Configuration Analysis of Corruption and Anti-corruption Path Based on PEST-Framework

To analyze the mechanism of corruption and explore the path of anti-corruption is an important part of national governance. Yet, the existing literature lacks a strong explanation for the multiple concurrent conditions of corruption and anti-corruption. On the basis of PEST framework and combining with the reality of Chinese government governance, this paper uses fs/QCA to analyze the relevant data of 31 provinces in 2016. The results show that: first, corruption is a complex configuration problem, which requires multiple concurrent conditions; second, three types constitute the driving path of regional high corruption: "government market balance" "official plunder" and "market society balance"; third, three types constitute the driving path of regional low-level corruption: "government society coordination" "government leading" and "government officials strengthening"; fourth, corruption governance needs to be undertaken by the multiple actors of "government + market + society", and different areas show different governance paths.