Corruption and poverty, Interview with Robert Klitgaard Part I

When there is more corruption there is more poverty. The link, however, is complicated. The poor suffer particularly from all kinds of corruption, which often means they are denied access to basic services rendered unaffordable by corrupt practices.

The Asian Trends Monitoring team spoke to Robert Klitgaard, a globally renowed expert on corruption, about increasing transparency, cleaning up corrupt bureaucracies and convening local level officials to share their experiences in fighting corruption. Even small steps taken by officials or grassroots activists can make a big difference in the lives of the poor as illustrated by the Indian website www.ipaidabribe.com. As of August 2011 the website users reported over 12,000 cases of bribes paid. Klitgaard points out that the concept has recently been copied by activists and is now used in China.

To watch the Part II of the interview go to http://youtu.be/3M7QnaHcIEk

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• corruption
• poverty
• governance
• grassroots
• procurement