ABSTRACT
There are many examples of political leaders who come to power with the promise of controlling corruption but end up exacerbating the problem. This chapter argues that, in nations with complex laws and widespread violations of the law, even when corruption control begins in earnest, leaders soon realize that they have a plethora of choice in terms of whom to punish. Corruption control is then directed at the opposition, critical media and political dissenters. This, in turn, provides comfort and shelter to the leaders’ friends and supporters. In short, corruption not only continues to flourish but also morphs into cronyism since those close to the leader violate the law more egregiously. The chapter shows that, given certain conditions, the total incidence of corruption could increase even though larger numbers are punished because of the shelter provided to many.
