In China, high level female bureaucrats are 81% less likely to be arrested for corruption than their male colleagues. In italy, between two thousand and 20 16, female bureaucrats were 22 % less likely to being investigated for corruption. One explanation is that women have fewer opportunities to take bribes or improperly wheeled connections. A lot of corruption thrives within old boys clubs, which tend to exclude women. Another explanation is that female politicians avoid corruption because they are punished more heavily for it.