The need for anti-corruption policies in developing countries

Abstract

Purpose In this study, the authors examine the issue of corruption in the government institutions of developing countries. Additionally, this study aims to answer the following research question: How do developing countries implement and enforce these anti-corruption policies? Specifically, the authors look at the laws adopted in different developing countries to deal with issues related to corruption. Design/methodology/approach The authors use the qualitative approach to examine the causes of recent corruption among government officials in developing countries such as Nigeria, India, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda. A comparative approach was used to compare and contrast the anti-corruption practices of developing and developed countries. Findings The findings indicate that corruption is rampant in much of the developing world. On a positive note, the authors have found evidence of actions taken by governments in these developing economies to rapidly deal with issues of corruption. All the countries analyzed in this paper have developed anti-corruption policies and related acts to detect and punish the perpetrators of corruption. Originality/value This paper provides a greater insight as to how the anti-corruption policies are formulated and enforced in the developing world. Specifically, the authors provide examples of different emerging countries and their approaches to developing and enforcing anti-corruption policies. This guidance can help others around the world to deal with anti-corruption policies in their countries. Although the authors have learned a lot about the detrimental effects of corruption and laws enacted to combat it, the next step is to examine the processes used by the developing countries to develop these anti-corruption laws and policies.

The content and determinants of CSR anti-corruption disclosure: the case of public-listed companies in Indonesia

“…Not surprisingly, in developing countries, initiatives to develop regulations to combat corruption are developing very rapidly. For instance, the Democratic Republic of Congo already has a financial intelligence unit, called the Cellule Nationale des Renseignements Financiers, to combat financial crimes such as terrorist financing and money laundering (Brody et al , 2020). The Malaysian government has developed the National Integrity Plan, the Government Transformation Programme and the National Anti-Corruption Plan to address corruption through programmes within law enforcement agencies and strengthen government procurement to minimise corruption (Muhamad and Gani, 2020).…”

“…This is because anti-corruption disclosures (ACDs) demonstrate a company’s commitment to the corruption prevention process (Duho et al , 2020; GRI, 2017) and are a positive signal for fostering better anti-corruption efforts (Blanc et al , 2017). Corruption may occur in any hemisphere (Brody et al , 2020), with developing countries experiencing it the most (Vale and Branco, 2019). Not surprisingly, in developing countries, initiatives to develop regulations to combat corruption are developing very rapidly.…”

Effects of Corruption Control on the Number of Undernourished People in Developing Countries

“…Corruption is a constant concern in developing countries because of inefficacious systems and dysfunctionality in the public sector [ 116 ], with resources concentrated in the hands of a small number of people [ 71 ]. Measurable corruption and state capture are common in these countries; these not only impede competition and development, but also damage the democratic process.…”

MNEs’ corporate governance disclosure: a strategic response to corrupt environments

“…Extant research states that corruption levels differ across developing and developed countries and that developing countries are perceived to be more corrupt than developed ones (Bahoo et al , 2020; Brody et al , 2020; Cheung et al , 2021; Jiang and Lu, 2021; Lourenço et al , 2018; Luiz and Stewart, 2014; Peyton and Belasen, 2012). Following the categorization of firms based on their countries of origin (Li et al , 2021), we argue that MNEs are stereotyped as more or less corrupt depending on their countries of origin.…”