The Effect of Wasta on Perceived Competence and Morality

Faculty of Management Technology

Working Paper Series

The Stigma of Wasta
The Effect of Wasta on Perceived Competence and Morality by Ahmed Amin Mohamed Hadia Hamdy

Working Paper No. 5

January 2008

The Stigma of Wasta
The Effect of Wasta on Perceived Competence and Morality

by Ahmed Amin Mohamed Hadia Hamdy January 2008

Abstract
Wasta is an Arabic word that means the use of social connections to obtain benefits that otherwise would not be provided. Wasta plays a very important role in securing of employment in Arab countries. This paper attempts to study the attribution effects of wasta on perceptions of competence and morality. The main hypotheses is that those that use wasta to obtain employment will be perceived as incompetent and immoral irrespective of their true competence and morality. Data gathered from an Egyptian sample supports the hypotheses. Thus, we conclude that wasta may tarnish the image or stigmatize its user.

JEL classification
M12

Keywords
Nepotism; attribution theory

Faculty of Management Technology German University in Cairo Al Tagamoa Al Khames 11835 New Cairo City – Egypt [e-mail] [e-mail]

INTRODUCTION One of the Arab region’s management issues that require attention from scholars is wasta (literally, connection, mechanism or intercession). Wasta is defined as the intervention of a patron in favor of a client to obtain benefits and/or resources from a third party. The word wasta can be used as a verb (the act of intercession) or as a noun (the patron). Although the degree of wasta use varies between Arab countries, wasta permeate many aspects of life in the Arab world (Cunnigham & Sarayrah, 1993; Kilani & Sakijha, 2002). In most Arab countries conducting simple tasks such as getting a driving license without a wasta can become an exercise in futility and frustration. Wasta makes people powerful, hence the nickname Vitamin WAW (Al Maeena, 2003). Wasta plays a critical

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