Perspectives On Corruption And Human Development

Seeks to show how corruption and human development are inextricably linked and demonstrates the effect it has on the everyday lives of people, especially the poor, in countries in Asia and the Pacific.

This study is, to the authors knowledge, the fi rst empirical cross-country analysis of the relationship between corruption and human development (HD) in Africa. In most African countries the current state of HD is critically poor. In spite of two decades of democratization and substantial economic growth or stability corruption has become endemic and tends to adversely affect HD conditions and needs. Using a pooledcross- section-across time-design and a sample of 40 African countries over many years (2003 2007) and based on an OLS Analysis, this study attempts an empirical examination of the association between corruption and HD in Africa, while holding constant economic growth, government socioeconomic or welfare expenditures and political system and, controlling for some major internal and external economic variables. As found, corruption adversely affects human development in Africa. Overall, based on the main study model (Model 1) a unit increase in the corruption level (CPI) on a scale of 1 to 10 will cause a .48 percent decrease in the state of HD (HDI).The relationship between corruption and HD is however non-linear: using Model 3 which incorporate a square term of corruption, it was found that at and below 4.577 RCPI (i.e. 5.42 normal CPI) corruptions is likely to positively affect HD whereas at and above 4.577 RCPI corruption rather tends to adversely affect HD with an increasing return. Besides, it was also found, using Model 2 which incorporates an interaction term of corruption and political system, that democratization has deceived scientists theoretical projections and peoples political expectations of the 1990s. Democracy has not improved HD in Africa. Both non-and partly democratic (i.e., authoritarian) and democratic political systems adversely affect HD. The adverse impact of corruption on HD is even worse in the latter systems. After checking for the main effect (Model 2) it appears that, as corruption increases by one unit, HD decreases by 9.48 percent in African countries with authoritarian systems. In contrast , the same one unit increase in corruption will have an additional 5.23 percent decrease in the HD of African countries with a democratic system. This study brings new insights about public policies ineffectiveness and failures to satisfy increasing HD needs in Africa. It throws new lights on the relationship existing between economic growth, democracy and corruption and HD. It suggests some policy reforms which could improve the state of HD in Africa. Overall, it is an important contribution to the theoretical and empirical body of administrative theory and knowledge.

This book offers the reader a broader view of the human rights approach towards combating corruption - including the arguments of those who oppose this approach - while it also considers how corruption may violate individual civil, political, economic, social and cultural human rights.

This volume, a companion to the Asia Pacific Human Development Report Tackling Corruption, Transforming Lives, contains papers that take a bold new look at the complexities of corruption, including its prevalence in times of shortages and growth, how it h

This paper demonstrates that high and rising corruption increases income inequality and poverty by reducing economic growth, the progressivity of the tax system, the level and effectiveness of social spending, and the formation of human capital, and by perpetuating an unequal distribution of asset ownership and unequal access to education. These findings hold for countries with different growth experiences, at different stages of development, and using various indices of corruption. An important implication of these results is that policies that reduce corruption will also lower income inequality and poverty.

The book analyses the influence of corruption on economic growth and environmental protection, examining corruption from different perspectives. It contributes to several streams of the literature and assembles evidence of the influence of corruption on two important variables in human welfare: income and environmental policies. The material evinces the detrimental effect that corruption has on economic growth and on the stringency of environmental policies. It also shows that standard techniques for fighting corruption are often based either on simplistic definitions or on strong assumptions that do not apply in many countries blighted by corruption. From a methodological standpoint, this work combines a number of approaches including a theoretical discussion of corruption and of its definition (often omitted in economic studies), together with econometrics, case studies and policy discussions.

The malaise of corruption has become deeply embedded in the political and social fabric of the Indian society. The increased frequency and scale of corruption have had deleterious effects on a wide range of issues. Corruption, therefore, must be viewed not just as an issue of law and order or of the criminal justice system; instead it has larger and adverse implications for development initiatives, transparency in administration, economic growth, access to justice, and human rights. This important and timely work adopts a new approach for analysing corruption—corruption as a violation of human rights. Highlighting the inherent deficiencies in the existing institutions, mechanisms, laws, and law enforcement agencies, the book strongly proposes the adoption of a multi-pronged strategy for eliminating corruption. This includes the creation of a new legislative framework, an effective institutional mechanism, a new independent and empowered commission against corruption, and greater participation of the civil society. It also compares India's experiences of combating corruption with many societies in Asia including Singapore and Hong Kong.

This book brings together a number of African anti-corruption policy makers from across different academic disciplines, religions, and generations. It engages in processes of economic, social, and political transformation to eliminate poverty and inequity, through individual and institutional means. Through historical and contemporary perspectives on authority structures, institutionalised myths, beliefs, and rituals of authority, the volume explores how to correctly mobilise and influence citizens’ behaviour and attitudes towards accountability, transparency and probity, all of which are key to strengthening national integrity systems all over Africa, and are needed for equity and sustainable development. The book strongly advocates that corruption is everybody’s business. All the chapters in some way commemorate the inaugural anti-corruption year of the African Union in 2018 by interrogating how mechanisms to eliminate inequity and poverty can be built in Africa.

This book examines the complex relationship between corruption and entrepreneurship in countries of varying levels of economic development. The authors explore the ways in which social welfare policies have changed in current economic and political environments as well as key challenges faced by the welfare policies. In addition, this book addresses three key questions with regard to the impact of corruption on institutions and social welfare: • Is corruption an additional burden in extensive regulatory environment on different types of entrepreneurship---necessity entrepreneurship, opportunity entrepreneurship, total entrepreneurial activity, self-employment, and newly registered firms? • Is corruption helpful for entrepreneurs who have aspiration to operate outside their home country border in highly regulated environment? • How does corruption affect income distribution generated through entrepreneurial activity? Entrepreneurship is an important factor for local and national economies as it generates employment and income that are crucial for economic development. Corruption can significantly influence the nature of decisions made by entrepreneurs, with profound effects on business creation, institutional development, and economic performance. For example, an entrepreneur with resources and networks might be able to influence the regulatory agencies to overlook violations, expedite permits, or bribe corrupt program administrators to violate the rules of distribution, exacerbating income inequality and obstructing economic growth and development. While corruption is not a new phenomenon, the current globalized economy has introduced trade into the corruption question as globalization puts pressure on countries to open borders to attract investments and gain a competitive advantage. However, many country level institutions do not always change as fast as the economic activity across borders, which can encourage corruption in order to bypass inefficient regulations and to successfully engage in entrepreneurship. The authors of the book examine this phenomenon. Featuring policy implications and case studies, this book will appeal to graduate students, academics, professionals, practitioners, and researchers in entrepreneurship, international business and public policy.