Detecting Corruption in Developing Countries: Identifying Causes/Strategies for Action

Excessive government discretion, bribery and abuse of power for private benefit are widespread phenomena in developing countries. This corruption results in hundreds and thousands of citizens going without the critical public services they are entitled to or rely on. Corruption occurs at all levels of society, from local and national governments, civil society, judiciary functions and small and large businesses alike, leaving little room for a country’s development and economic growth.

To combat corruption in developing countries, policy makers must understand the problem and devise a meaningful strategy that attacks its underlying causes and not just deals with its symptoms. Detecting Corruption merges scholarship on corruption assessments with practical techniques on ways practitioners and policy makers can implement anticorruption assistance. Spector argue that assessments need to adopt a comprehensive “whole of government” approach that examines all key sectors where there are corruption vulnerabilities. Strong accountability/control measures need to be designed and implemented across all sectors into a multidimensional strategy/program.

Detailed case studies from the author's work in Ukraine, Honduras, Senegal and Timor Leste show the effectiveness of the comprehensive approach to corruption.