The politics of corruption

Squeezing the sleazy


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Readers' comments



My African friends and colleagues complain about corruption. That was not the case ten or even five years ago, so there is a positive trend which is also reflected in the article. But it will take a very long time before corruption is be rooted out. And corruption is like a cancer to society, especially in poor countries.


Corruption comes in many forms.
for me the manufacture of evidence , perjury and wrongful imprisonment, were tools used to the advantage of existing investors.
The agencies whom are allegedly responsible for oversight, refuse to investigate. The agencies whom are allegedly on voluntarily basis refuse as well.
The RCMP corruption and cover-up continues relentlessly.

Unqualified Critic

Everything the West does is suspected as a disguise for meddling and hippocrasy. The Taliban are convinced that U.N. workers delivering Polio vaccines to children, are trying to sterilize Muslims.


If the author had mentioned about the recent corruption in Bangladesh on Padma Multipurpose bridge, the writing would be more vibrant and appealing. World Bank was supposed to finance for the bridge amounting 1.2 billion USD. An underhand dealing between SNC Lavalin, a Canadian consulting firm and the high ups of the government of Bangldaseh was unearthed by World Bank and World Bank sojurned financing. Other financiers, JAICA, IDB etc. also withdrew ensuing that.
World Bank, with a request from Bangladesh government to review its decision to financing the project, asked Bangladesh government to sue the parties involved in the sleazy deal if the government was really sincere in constructing the bridge.
Bangladesh government plotted a ludicrous investigation and sued few people whose role were purely incidental; however,the big fishes,minister of communication and an ex-minister, were totally unscathed. The project's destiny was written up with that.
World Bank's probity and integrity saved million of dollars of an impecuneous country.


We have come a long way. Sure, laws are one thing and enforcement is another, but still. From 1970-1995 I was in an Institution. The inmates, 'experts' if you prefer, were uncomfortably aware that the parties we dealt with were mostly crooks. And it would be unfair to the Institution to say that it was a jobsworth to say so. We said so all the time, over coffee. But never officially, never in print. That began to change just a very little in the 90s and now it has changed dramatically. Takes time, takes retirements and resignations and scandals and deaths. Those have transpired. There is still plenty of room for discomfort, at times I fear that the corruption is just migrating higher up the food chain, but the cat is out of the bag and that is a good step forward.

Jonathan Lam

Gamesmith94134: The politics of corruption


It is true that there are ways in running politics of corruption since many consider it as part as the culture even for India, and many fought hard over the issue and compromised in its partisan practices. After all, who isn’t pleased if he can deal with one’s mistake and pay half price? It is why many leaders found them isolated by the system, or even endangered them in taking actions like the Cassandra run since the system or culture condone such act as if it was humanized to their cultures. It is why such unthinkable has been lingered on in the G20 and troubled many leaders like Mr. Wen, Mr. Obama, and Mr. Putin after the fallen angels at high level officials like Italy, Taiwan and more. The culture preys on its citizens who cannot protect themselves and the system halted as it condoned. Therefore, it needs the citizens to bring on the issues in their political arena to reelect their officials and bring on the assistance of a system from outside like the UN convention against corruption, and it is the public to join the team to crack down corruption.

Since you have mentioned FCPA in American law, I would recommend you the ATS in the Kiobel symposium that we and US Judiciary system are working hard on the aftermath to the FCPA, and I can send you the details on the rulings and discussion in US Supreme court.


So, its sis not just the telecommunication of India or National Petroleum of Nigeria, it is the system how we are being neglected and suppressed. However, we are stepping up to its progress to redevelop its proponents to another system that can step in through an international treaty and make it legitimate. It must be globalized and interacted to the call of its citizens, so corruption is restrained and alienated to cultures, and turned into crime instead.

May the Buddha bless you?

James AntiBr

It is too soon to celebrate victory.

The Mensalao (Big Monthly Allowance) trial in
Brazil send many untouchables to medium jail
terms. Soon after, more officials were sacked
on corruption charges. Many more have yet to
taste much needed prison terms.

Brazil instituted Ficha Limpa (Clear Slate) to
thwart corrupt officials from getting re-elected.
There are corrupt officials that bypassed that on
technicalities. Furthermore, impeached President
Collor de Mello not only returned to power as
a Senator, but also was a major member in the ethics

The Mensalao Trial could be a "Para Ingles Ver" show
or a propaganda tool to appease foreign investors and
others such as naive enthralled global supporters who
think Brazil should be considered as a major power.
Until Collor de Mello, Maluf, and others like them
are demoted from power and or face jail terms, nothing
really will change.

Public Dude

In some countries like India, only the action of an international organization could bring about change. The government there had taken no action or even encouraged a corrupt individual to be on Indian Olympic Association. Only after IOC kicked out would India react, feeling ashamed. The Prime Minister may be honest there but plenty of others, from the highest offices in the Congress Party to lower down are just a bunch of corrupt people.

Jean Baptiste

Corruption is not limited to third world countries. Quebec corruption runs rampant in all levels of government, and the amounts are in the billion dollars. That is why we have the highest taxes in the Americas, to pay for all the corruption in this province!

Evil Overlord

I'm glad to see corruption getting more attention. Now to recognize that reducing corruption is a long-term business - too many governments believe that it can be fixed by adopting an anti-bribe law or ratifying the UN Convention Against Corruption. Those are good things, but usually what is needed is broad systemic change across many sectors. Still, progress is being made!

Deendayal Lulla

What about judicial corruption? It is a global phenomenon. Recently,the Sri Lankan chief justice ,the country's first woman chief justice is facing charges of financial irregularities. She is facing impeachment proceedings. In India also,there is judicial corruption. You cannot fight corruption,unless you first deal with judicial corruption. And the foundation for this abolition of contempt of courts act,globally,as it is a one-sided law. What about contempt of litigants? Litigants should enjoy protection from corrupt judges,and judges who do not apply their mind. Recenlty,we have witnessed this- harassment of two innocent girls in Palghar,for harmless comments on facebook,when Mumbai was forcibly shut down ,following the death of a leader. The magistrate should have freed the girls,instead they had to take bail. Later on,the magistrate was transferred,but what about the girls,who are still out on bail. We need drastic judicial reforms - live telecast of courts' proceedings,complete transparency in courts' working,and the public should have the right to express their opinion on the court cases in the public domain. Judiciary should not be seen as an institution of kings. The great Indian philosopher - Chanakya has said that one should even doubt the integrity of a judge. Where is the place for litigants in a country's legal system - there are laws for judges and the lawyers,but does any country has any law for litigants? A corrupt judge threatens those who raise their voice,with contempt of court. Where is the quality concept in judgements? Nothing is static in life,everything changes. Judges have to be made accountable for the judgements. Subjects like judicial corruption,judicial accountability should be taught in the curriculam of law courses worldwide. The majesty of courts lie in people's faith in the judiciary. The judiciary has to be litigant friendly,a litigant is the king,and not the judge. Judges are not above scrutiny. Litigants should not experience disconnect with the judiciary. Judicial independence is public property - it belongs not just to judges,but to every citizen. Why should a litigant be helpless ,when a judge gives biased judgements,and passes uncharitable comments? This calls for a law for judges' accountability,and litigants' protection. The judiciary must realise that in a democracy,people have the right to criticise/express opinion on the judgements,and functioning of courts.

Global anti-corruption efforts will gain strength only if judicial corruption is checked by empowering the people. And the foundation for this is an equal law ,and not one-sided law for contempt of court,as at present in a number of countries.

iM6W6YB8Bo in reply to Deendayal Lulla

D. Lulla

If you are citing current S Lankan impeachment as a reaction to judicial corruption, it heavily undermines your valid, though garbled, inputs on judicial corruption. Pl. check your facts and it stinks a lot more than that.

Judicial corruption is different from many other aspects of corruption, and besides perceptions based surveys ( largely by TI) it is a bit difficult to analyse the process and to form a basis to have an informed discussion on the way in which it "costs" (in the absence of a better term)our societies.

I am afraid, a key remedy you propose (removal of law punishing contempt of court) and your problem (judicial corruption) are as disconnected as your S Lankan example to the key issue you rightly bring up.


One case:

Suppose a businessman bribes a government officer 10K, and 100K in return. How much is the amount of corruption? 10K or 110K?

I bet in lot of "clear" countries, it is 10K.

Pez D Spencer

What will countries like Switzerland, Liechtenstein and the Cayman Islands do now?
For many decades, they've been profiting from servicing crime organizations, dictators, corrupt regimes and tax fraudsters worldwide.
A Swiss bank account seems to be the most common denominator of many of the world's bad guys.


Missing from this analysis is the understanding that the primary driver of corruption is the state's ever-increasing mandate to regulate and control most (all?) human endeavors, as well as tax other to redistribute favors to narrowly connected interests.

As long as the state has practically limitless scope to expand its regulatory tentacles and to distribute unearned largesse, there will be reasons to engage in corrupt activities.

If you (and the assorted great and good) truly wished to eliminate corruption, then the root of the attack would be directly at the size and power of governments globally. Shrink the state and reduce its taxation power and the attraction of corrupt dealings reduces accordingly.

wsgilbert in reply to SomeoneElseToo

Yes, sort of. But in the end, no. Taxes are not all bad. I pay high taxes here in Canada and while some of that may be lost to corrupt practices, corruption will always exist as long as people do. That is not to condone it, the fight is right, but it never ends. Some of my tax money also goes to social services, notably health care, which are among the best in the world and certainly incomparably better than in our neighbour to the South, where they pay directly out of pocket many times more than we pay indirectly through taxes for health and other services. No matter how small government gets, I'm still the guy who's marking your paper and I can guarantee you'll get an A+ if you just step this way for a fact, one could argue that the smaller the government, the more numerous and petty will be the corrupt agents. That is just as tenable as your no-tax proposition.

SomeoneElseToo in reply to wsgilbert

I'm sorry but your response does not address the root cause of corruption: not people, generally, but people with power over your life and the lives of your fellow citizens.

There are essentially only two primary means of corruption (which by definition involves government agents misusing their authority or betraying the public trust for personal gain).

The first form of corruption happens when a person must pay fees for services that the government has ostensibly already been paid to provide, such as a building permit.

The second form of corruption (and one which seems to have the great and good in a huff) occurs when the state provides contracts or the rights to control some thing (an airport concession, sole-source vendor for a highway, etc) that was giving as a quid pro quo, either direct cash or future favors.

In both cases the size and power of the state are the ultimate source of the corruption. Freed from petty government permits, government controlled contracts or directed benefits to ensure reelection, the issue of corruption essentially disappears.

With a minimally invasive state, you are left with principally private actors who are not (again, by definition) engaged in corruption if they agree on terms of a purely private transaction. Your argument ignores this distinction.


These initiatives are fine if in the long run they work. Even in the bad old days the most egregious forms of corruption were publicized and sometimes the perpetrators were punished. Part of the problem with financial corruption is that there is always the temptation for the participants to try their best to evade detection and sanction, since the parties all have something to gain if the deal goes through. Sometimes it is the only way a rival can trump a competitor. Consequently this is a very difficult area to cover. Of course it is welcome news that there are a few organisations and governments who appear to be taking steps to increase accountability of corporations and governments, which is welcome, however it all seems to be a case of 'sticking plasters', an attempt to uncover egregious examples of flagrant corruption.
Even then though there is a cultural element to all this. There are a few cultures that value transparency and openness, these are in the majority. For example among south east Asian people there appears to be a cultural drive to make money at any an all costs regardless of the effect this may have on wider society.
If we are to have long term change in developing a culture of anti-corruption, it would certainly have to involve a bit more than 'sticking plaster'. But, best of luck.

wsgilbert in reply to femi

`Even in the bad old days the most egregious forms of corruption were publicized and sometimes the perpetrators were punished'. Up to a point, Lord Copper. Depends where you're looking. Not in Africa, they weren't. The list is long; Mobutu is gone, but what do you reckon his kids are doing this Christmas? Where? Geneva? And with whom? Andy? It's a tricky subject, is corruption, when you really try to get down to it. I mention Africa. You mention S.E. Asian cultural imperatives. I can't remember who, but back when I had a brain, someone talked about 'good' and 'bad' corruption. A Tonkinese minister of finance, let's say, rips off the proceeds of a World Bank Loan (or IDA Credit) to set his numerous family members up in small businesses. Corrupt. But this generates economic activity and one way or another, taxes, in the wide sense. The money circulates in the target society. The delinquency is there, but it is more moral than economic. The Asian politico is simply substituting his judgement for that of an unhappy bureaucrat from Washington who wouldn't know what country she was in without the Hotel notepaper. African 'leaders' in contrast buy appartments on the Avenue Foch, order $2000 a bottle sweet fizzy wines in expensive but basically second-rate venues and ride around their plantations in fleets of stretch Mercedes passion wagons. The money all goes straight back to the societies who lent it in the first place and with nothing to show. The children in back of their palaces still have kwashiokor and their mother still has to walk two miles to reach a water pump. Perhaps we'll get further with fighting corruption if we focus on the victims rather than on the perpetrators.

Jaya Prakash

This is indeed a very good article. Corruption is the bane of progress and has proven to lower the quality of life in nations where it is rife or seemingly condone it.
However, the one thing that one needs to know is; how does one define and quantifies corruption. It is good to note that the author has identified that teachers who demand sex for higher grades from students must be punished and ought to be punished. Because that simply does more than just mere damage in the school. If ever that malaise is symptomatic of a larger corrupt phenomenon; than society as whole suffers.

But there is something else I need to add. What about workplace favouritism? Isn't that corruption too. Favourites in the workplace are usually promoted with scant recognition for their merits and though no monetary inducement is offered, the outcome resulting from favoritism in the workplace is the same as that of monetarily-induced corruption: a weaker and unproductive corporate unit.
Maybe The Economist should consider deliberating that and workplace bullying in its next edition.

Nom Deplume in reply to Jaya Prakash

One enormous difference... in business there is a 'self-correcting' mechanism for favoritism and poor decision making on promotion. Clearly that doesn't mean it doesn't exist, but companies that have too much of this are generally beaten out by their more effective and efficient competitors. Obviously, that doesn't apply to a country's government system, or at least not very often and since we generally call that a 'revolution' it probably isn't a workable annual method to 'refresh' a governing system.


Thank you for highlighting this move in long term corporate and government enlightened self interest. Picking up on an aspect of this debate that I find encouraging... Laws are one thing. Enforcement another. Yet another is confronting a culture of citizens accepting corruption as normative and, occasionally, laudable - should the scam have been clever enough. Hats off to those who focus on engaging and confronting their fellow countrymen through initiatives like I Paid a Bribe and the hundreds of citizen leaders who have pitched and led their concepts through TechSoup's ReStart Challenge series across Central and Eastern Europe over the last 2 years. If Boardwalk Empire has taught me nothing (other than a love for spats) it is perhaps the ongoing paradigmatic silliness of legislating morality without citizen mandate or drive. It does not teach or train individuals that they have a role, a stake and a personal duty to reject normative corruption opening the door for them to feel fine with some under-the-table business as they run some ministry later... Neither does the other traditional anti-corruption tactic of 'name and shame.' It is wonderful to see citizen driven initiative, primarily through the web, gaining constituency, and challenging behaviors and politics in concert with the moves in corporate life and through initiatives like the OGP - may they instill the will to make real progress.


A good article. I agree that internationalization of the issue has helped things. As an Indian working for an American concern in India, I can say for sure that the FCPA is a good thing and that there are many American organizations who manage without bribery in India (at least I don't see any such instances in my company.) American companies in India take FCPA very seriously, which is refreshing in the culture of corruption that is so deep-rooted in India.

In India, we had a grassroots organization (India Against Corruption) that really took the country by storm in 2011, under the leadership of Anna Hazare, but has faltered in its way and completely disintegrated. For an analysis of the reasons why, please see this link: I am sorry to say that this particular example contradicts the premise of the article that corruption everywhere is being squeezed. But as I say in the cited article, in which I quoted Lincoln, about the setback in the anti-corruption movement in India: "it is a slip, not a fall."

There are two other things, apart from what is talked about a lot in the Indian media, on what needs to be done to combat corruption in India. One is to have less government, i.e., to privatize, because it is the amount of discretionary power in the government that leads to large-scale corruption. Want to set up a new steel factory or a telecommunications service? Need approval from the government - so, kickbacks. The fewer things that are controlled by the govt., the less the corruption.

The second is the role of the average Indian. Indians talk a lot about wanting to eliminate corruption, but most of them freely indulge in it when it benefits them. For example, you are stopped at a traffic intersection because you committed a mistake - ran a red light. Rather than accept your fault and pay the fine, you offer the cop a bribe - half the amount of the ticket. He gets free (unaccounted) money, you pay less. Win-win. Or you bribe your way to a seat in a college which your son doesn't even deserve because he doesn't have the requisite marks in the exams.

I have created a song that talks about some of these instances of corruption initiated by the common man (in Hindi, with English translation in the notes). You can see it here: (there is a reference to in the song as well.)

It is a long road ahead, but a goal worth fighting for. But people have to first cleanse themselves of the desire to succeed using shortcuts.


Full marks to Georg Schmitt and to 'Not in my country'. We need much more of this. And we need more scrutiny of inefficient financing of state and parastatal activities - and of inefficient procurement. It is in this moist and murky environment that many scoundrels thrive and impose excessive and unnecessary cost burdens on citizens, final consumers and service users.

Probably not surprising that this article is attracting so few comments. In the global commercial world those who promote efficient and honest dealing are vanishingly few.



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