ivee’s page

THE FORTUNE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PYRAMID
REDUCING CORRUPTION
QUOTE:
Corruption decreases the amount of wealth in a country and lowers the standard of living.
LEARNING EXPECTATION:
When countries tackle corruption they increase their national incomes by as much as four times in the long term, according to research. Business can grow by as much as 3% faster and child mortality can fall as much as 75%, if corruption is reduced.
REVIEW:
Discourages businesses from operating in a corrupt setting, reducing the overall wealth in a country.
Reduces the amount of money the government has to pay workers and buy supplies, such as books, medicine and computers.
Distorts the way the government uses its money so that the services it provides (schools, health clinics, roads, sewer systems, police forces, etc.) are worse than they would be.
Allows those with money or connections to bend the law or government rules in their favor.
Undermines trust in government.
LESSONS LEARNED:
Opportunity: People get involved in corruption when systems don’t work well and they need a way to get their things done regardless of the procedure and laws.
Little chance of getting caught: A lack of accountability comes primarily from a lack of transparency (for example, public officials don’t inform about or explain what they are doing, how and why), and weak enforcement (law agencies don’t impose sanctions on power holders who have violated their public duties).
Bad incentives: For example, a clerk not earning enough to live on, or not being sure that he will have a job tomorrow, so he supplements his income with bribes.
Certain attitudes or circumstances make average people disregard the law. People may try to get around laws of a government they consider illegitimate. Poverty or scarcity of goods (such as medicine) may also push people to live outside the law.
INTEGRATIVE QUESTIONS:
1.    What Is the International Community Doing?
2.    What are the Providing assistance to countries that ask for help in curbing corruption ?
3.    What are the Contributing to international corruption-fighting efforts?
4.    Striving to prevent fraud and corruption in donor-financed projects ?
5.    What is reducing corruption?