ABSTRACT
Corruption has emerged high on the agenda of multinational development agencies, private firms and policy-makers. This increased interest in the phenomenon of corruption has produced a multitude of policy prescriptions, reform initiatives and conferences. The world is not short of ideas on how to tackle corruption. While good intentions abound we currently know little about their likely success. Being short of empirical evidence and profound experience, there is not even a theory available that allows us to put the various approaches into comparative perspective. How should bureaucrats be punished? How should administrative procedures be reformed? How far should parliamentarians be accountable to the public? What piece of information should be made publicly available? Is transparency always helpful? Is it possible to reward honesty? Can corruption be effectively fought by focusing on technical and organizational issues? What should be the role assigned to civil society? How far can we expect bureaucrats to follow their narrow self-interest as opposed to ethical considerations? How many resources should we spend for improving the judiciary? How should we deal with whistleblowers?
