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The issue of whether bureaucratic corruption hinders or benefits economic development is investigated. An overview of groups & perspectives that have been critical of corruption emphasizes the tendencies for these parties & approaches to confuse inefficiency with corrupt action. Several ways in which bureaucratic corruption can facilitate economic development are identified: (1) The bureaucracy can convince the government to take interest in certain economic enterprises. (2) Corruption can increase investment by reducing investors' fears about government policy. (3) An individual's economic innovations can be implemented without acquisition of political power. (4) Corruption can prevent complete losses from poor government policy. The traditional complaints that corruption hinders taxation, prevents accountability in expenditures, & promotes cynicism are challenged. It is acknowledged that corruption can be highly detrimental to economic development under certain conditions. Harmful bureaucratic corruption could be remedied by redistributing resources to ensure greater economic productivity. J. W. Parker

The gap between policy research & practice is investigated in the context of social benefit-cost analysis for investment choice in the World Bank. Possible explanations for the failure of the World Bank to adopt this analysis technique are discussed. Implications for both social scientists who do policy research & practitioners are considered. 28 References. Modified HA

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