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Corruption as stable equilibrium?

Corruption is a major obstacle to the opportunity to solve the most pressing problems of our time – poverty and unhealth, the environmental and climate threat and increasing economic inequality.




(THIS ARTICLE IS MACHINE TRANSLATED by Google from Norwegian)

Corruption is a worldwide problem that undermines democracy, human rights and effective governance. Why is it so difficult to overcome the problem? What works in the fight against corruption?

Missing recipe. One of Scandinavia's leading corruption researchers, the Swedish political scientist Bo Rothstein, recently lectured at the Oslo University College and Akershus on these issues. He stated that if there was an effective recipe, responsible politicians would have abolished the corruption long ago.

An obvious explanation is that the politicians who say they want the corruption to life actually retain the position of power and enrich themselves at the expense of the community just by means of corruption. More disappointingly, it may be that honorable anti-corruption opponents who hold presidential or prime minister positions also fail in their endeavors. Standard strategies to counter corruption are necessary, but not sufficient, according to Rothstein. Whether it is more democracy and free elections, attitude-building work, criminal regulations and prosecution or independent and professional management.

The Coordination Problem. Rothstein's conclusion is that societies with widespread corruption are in a kind of stable equilibrium situation. His interpretation is that we are facing a gigantic interaction problem – a so-called collective action problem: Those who help perpetuate corruption are reluctant to do so. But by refraining from corruption individually, people in isolation come out even worse. To break this vicious circle, all actors must do it at the same time. Surveys confirm that those who participate will give up if they are sure that everyone else is doing the same. Rothstein asked the question of whether a "big bang" is required to break the pattern.

Those who help maintain corruption do so reluctantly.

The Scandinavian countries are characterized by a relatively low level of corruption. Here too, there was more widespread corruption for a long time after the monopoly was abolished and democracy introduced. According to Rothstein, there are historical explanations for today's Scandinavian equilibrium with relatively little corruption. A number of basic social reforms from the end of the 1800 century onwards benefited broad populations, gradually confirming that the authorities could be a tool for the common good of the people and not a powerhouse for the few.

Also in Norway. In our societies, corruption may be more like exceptions to the equilibrium state. But the cases are often serious and weaken the level of trust. For example, half of the population in Norway believe that bribes, lubrication and favoring of family and friends occur in the municipalities. In the past year, the corruption cases in municipal planning and building cases are just one of many examples of our challenges. We hardly need a Scandinavian "big bang", but an awakening from an excessive belief that we are vaccinated against corruption.

dolvik@transparency.no
dolvik@transparency.no
Dølvik is a specialist advisor in Transparency International Norway.

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