A Cracked Public Administration in Peru: How “Vacunagate” Has Shaken the Foundations of an Already Damaged Society

Abstract

While crises are ubiquitous in Latin America, due to its geographical characteristics as well as its turbulent business environment, countries such as Peru have also extreme rates of corruption and deep institutional weakness. These factors, taken together, undermine any attempt of national governments or society’s collective efforts towards achieving sustainability. This paper aims to analyze the “Vacunagate” scandal that occurred in Peru during the first negotiations of the vaccination process against COVID-19, using a case study method, and focusing our discussion from the Agency Theory as well as from leadership and institutional perspectives. The results of the analysis emphasize how the “Vacunagate” event generated relevant constraints towards the achievement of the SDG 16, and its specific targets related to provide justice for all, deal with organized crime, reduce corruption, and create accountable institutions. In addition, the study provides insights and implications for organizations in Peru that would have to operate under a turbulent business environment, considering a business-as-usual corruption and a weak institutional context.

Legal gaps in the peruvian corporate network: Negative practices in boards of directors

“…Identificando los riesgos en la normativa legal peruana que permitirían la aparición de prácticas negativas producto de la vinculación de las empresas a través de sus redes de directorios, se podrían formular mecanismos o leyes apropiadas con el fin de evitar perjuicios para las organizaciones y los consumidores del entorno, así como situaciones de desigualdad de competencia en una economía de libre mercado. Esto fortalecería la acción, actualmente debilitada (Briolo y Cordova, 2022;Hoskisson et al, 2000;Vassolo et al, 2011), de las instituciones latinoamericanas que regulan la acción empresarial en el país, elemento que sería importante para soportar el crecimiento económico y la reducción de desigualdades en el Perú (Vergara Paniagua, 2018).…”