A Theory of Limits on Corruption and Some Applications

Abstract

Contends that analyzing the measures, called countervailing actions, that victims of corruption take to recuperate their losses provides a viable approach to understanding variations in corruption in different societies & over time. Three forms of countervailing actions are distinguished: evasive, in which victims reduce their reliance on officials; direct, in which individuals increase officials' cost for performing corrupt acts, & illicit, in which victims participate in corrupt acts themselves. The use of countervailing actions in several sectors & elements of South Asian societies, eg, postal services, utility departments, & college admissions boards, is examined. After discussing global & specific causes of countervailing action use, the effects of utilizing the different forms of countervailing actions are noted. In addition, factors associated with countervailing actions that account for variations in corruption in distinct societies & over time are identified. The study's implications for researching corruption in the future are also considered. 17 References. J. W. Parker