Africa Development Indicators 2010 : Silent and Lethal, How Quiet Corruption Undermines Africa's Development
The corruption that often captures newspaper headlines and provokes worldwide public disapproval is dominated by loud 'big-time corruption,' notably administrative and political corruption at the highest government levels. In response to...
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| Format: | Publication |
| Language: | English |
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World Bank
2012
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| Online Access: | http://www-wds.worldbank.org/external/default/main?menuPK=64187510&pagePK=64193027&piPK=64187937&theSitePK=523679&menuPK=64187510&searchMenuPK=64187283&siteName=WDS&entityID=000333037_20100407014412 http://hdl.handle.net/10986/2431 |
| Summary: | The corruption that often captures
newspaper headlines and provokes worldwide public
disapproval is dominated by loud 'big-time
corruption,' notably administrative and political
corruption at the highest government levels. In response to
this notoriety, the bulk of anti-corruption measures have
been tailored to address this type of corruption. However,
recent examinations of the level and quality of service
delivery in developing countries, including the World
Development Report 2004, have highlighted the need to expand
the scope of the standard definition of corruption, the
abuse of public office for private gain. While acknowledging
the importance of big-time corruption in reducing funding
for service delivery, recent research has devoted increasing
attention to identifying corrupt practices downstream at the
frontline of public service provision. Given the complexity
of the task, the fight against quiet corruption requires
tailoring policies to country circumstances, recognizing
that priorities and responses may vary depending on
different country conditions. This essay outlines a research
agenda to identify interventions to address quiet
corruption. Experimenting with various ways to empower
beneficiaries and continuing the ongoing efforts to tackle
big-time corruption will go a long way toward achieving this
goal. Indeed, although combating loud and visible forms of
corruption is necessary, fighting quiet corruption is
critical if governments want to reduce poverty and promote
sustainable growth. |
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