Political corruption
Rethink Aid Strategy to Poor Countries
IPN Opinion article
Government to government aid has damaged existing institutions of productivity making poor countries poorer. Aid encourages governments to seek foreign assistance through beggary, extortion or threats, instead of creating needed change at home. Bauer observed, 'Unlike manna from heaven which descends o≠n the whole population, these subsidies go to the government'.4 Government to government aid facilitates statism, which is hostile to the needs of the individual. It normally supports government directed projects and feeds a system of corruption. In other words aid has tended to erode the proper role of governments in poor societies, hence scuttling o≠ngoing development and scuttling any reforms that may be already underway.
Kenyan leader must target corruption
IPN Opinion article
While the Financial Times is correct to note the need for serious systemic reform in Kenya, restarting the flow of aid should not be the priority for the new president (\"Kenya\'s chance for a new beginning\", December 30).
Rather, Mwai Kibaki must target corruption at every level, from the highest government official to the low-level bureaucrats who routinely accept bribes for the most commonplace of tasks, such as paying utility bills or proving ownership.
However, he will also need to protect formal property rights, promote the rule of law and encourage free markets.
Big government encourages corruption
IPN Opinion article
Nigeria will better off if it could follow the worthy examples of Hong Kong and Singapore. Both countries were once in the league of corrupt nations but realizing its implications on economic growth and development, they quickly shift from being very corrupt to relatively clean and become good examples for other countries.
Nigeria will have to take a cue from them. Stemming corruption requires more than official statements. It requires stepping on big toes. It requires economic will. Political power to the people is not enough. Government relinquishing most of its economic power to the people must complement it. This is desirable. Unless this is timely done, Nigeria might have perilously embarked on a self-paved road to serfdom.
Corruption in Bolivia: Reforming the Judiciary System
IPN Opinion article
Citizens in developing nations witness outrageous acts of corruption with no one being held accountable, resulting in a loss of faith in democratic institutions. In Bolivia, the judiciary is endemically corrupted, condemning most of the commercial, civil and public activities to be corrupted too. When those with the legal obligation to guard the legality and rightfulness of civic and official activities are corrupted, economic recovery will take a long time because of the effect corruption has on increasing transaction costs.
