ABSTRACT
This introduction chapter presents an overview of key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. Corruption is a severe impediment to economic growth, and a significant challenge for developed, emerging and developing countries. A basic premise is that corruption tends to occur where rents exist and public officials have discretion in allocating them. The book offers a novel, coherent, and multidisciplinary, multidimensional, multi-country account of corruption, addressing the complex linkages between corruption, economic growth and globalization. It is divided into three parts. Part one provides a theoretical and empirical account of the linkages between corruption, economic growth and globalization. Part two focuses on distinct mechanisms, presents evidence on how different types of corruption are likely to impact on the economic performance of countries. Part three describes the measures and policies deployed in some countries to prevent and control corruption setting the path for sustainable growth strategies.
