Effect of Corruption & Recommendation

Effects of Corruption

The negative impact of corruption is extensive and multi-faceted. The malpractice of corruption violates and oppresses citizens’ rights. It impedes the economic growth and development of a state. According to Thompson (1993), corruption is a malaise not only because it siphons public resources and opportunity to corrupt individuals, it also victimizes valuable aspects of public life by undermining the scope of proper representation, debate and choice. Poverty, bureaucratic inefficiency, political instability and environmental degradation are obviously the results of corruption (Sweeny 1999). Kofi A. Annan, the former Secretary-General of the United Nations, in his statement to the General Assembly of the United Nations Convention against Corruption, has said:

“Corruption hurts the poor disproportionately by diverting funds intended for development, undermining a Government’s ability to provide basic services, feeding inequality and injustice, and discouraging foreign investment and aid (United Nations 2004, p. iii).”

According to Transparency International (2007a), corruption influences the four aspects of a state, i.e., political, economic, social, and environmental. In the political arena, corruption is a great hindrance to democracy and the rule of law (Transparency International 2007a). From the economic perspective, corruption is responsible for the depletion of the national wealth, the misuse of public resources and the distortion of the fair market structure and competition. In the social fabric, it challenges the political system, institutions and leadership, which further enhances frustration and apathy among citizens (Transparency International 2007a). A corrupt government system on the one hand benefits those who indulge in corruption; on the other hand, it deprives law-abiding citizens who legally want access to services (Rose-Ackerman 1978). Thus, corruption causes a distributional disadvantage in a society. As Rose Ackerman (1978) explains, if corruption is overlooked and openly tolerated in a society by economically justifying it, in the long run that society will find that corruption has affected all the machineries of government and thus the values.

Recommendation

v  - Reform the anti corruption bureau of Bangladesh for active against corruption,

v  - Develop comprehensive national strategies for combating corruption,

v  - Strengthen law enforcement mechanisms,

v -   Develop codes of ethics in public administration to be enforced by strong sanctions;

v  - Strengthen procedures for an effective and merit-based civil service,

v   - Establishing public-private partnerships to develop anti-corruption strategies,

v    - Strong commitment by top management of companies to implement anticorruption strategies,

v  -  Accounting and auditing rules and standards to ensure transparency in business transactions,

v  -  Mobilizing civil society to monitor good governance;

v   - Implementing education programs aimed at fostering an anti-corruption culture in society,

v  - Enabling the media to effectively exercise public scrutiny,

1. Public Sector

v  - Establish the office of Ombudsman for curving corruption fairly;

v -  Reform the anti corruption bureau of Bangladesh for active against corruption;

v  - Develop comprehensive national strategies for combating corruption;

v  - Strengthen law enforcement mechanisms, including the role of the judiciary and provide witness protection programs;

v  - Increase transparency through the establishment of competitive public procurement procedures and encourage the adoption of international rules in this area;

v  -  Improve conditions for international investment through simplification of government procedures,

v   - Improve transparency and accountability in budget preparation, execution, and oversight of expenditure,

v  -  Develop codes of ethics in public administration to be enforced by strong sanctions;

v   - Strengthen procedures for an effective and merit-based civil service, particularly recruitment, promotion and pay, adopt "Freedom of Information" laws and provide access to public information,

v  - Strengthen parliamentary oversight, independent audit and investigative bodies to be backed by sufficient human and financial resources.

2. Private Sector

v  - establishing public-private partnerships to develop anti-corruption strategies, goals and processes;

v  - promoting good corporate governance on the basis of international standards and principles;

v -  strong commitment by top management of companies to implement anticorruption strategies;

v  - developing and implementing codes of ethical conduct and ensuring their effectiveness through internal control mechanisms, training of personnel and sanctions;

v  - Accounting and auditing rules and standards to ensure transparency in business transactions; building coalitions for business integrity, including business ethics centers.

3. Media and Civil Society

v - mobilizing civil society (media, NGOs, business, labor, and professional associations) to monitor good governance;

v  - creating an anti-corruption network of NGOs to share information on regional/country anti-corruption initiatives;

v  - conducting surveys of businesses, consumers and public opinion to provide feedback for delivery of public services and fostering competition;

v-  implementing education programs aimed at fostering an anti-corruption culture in society;

v - enabling the media to effectively exercise public scrutiny;

v  - Improving ethical and professional standards of journalists and promoting training in investigative journalism.

                                                                      Courtesy: Md. Jahangir Alam

                                                                                     South-East University