This study aims to analyze how the problem of corruption manifests itself in thoroughlycorrupt contexts. Through a theoretical framework inspired by rational choice two theorieswill be examined against each other, collective action and principal agent theory. The studyaims to investigate whether part of the explanation is a misunderstanding of how corruptionmanifests itself in deeply corrupt nations. It does this by comparing two nations that bothshare such characteristics, Tanzania and Zambia with a theory-testing approach. The resultshows that while both theories have some merit, the collective action theory might be morefitting.