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Curated by Project Syndicate

The State of Corruption

16 commentaries

In today’s major emerging countries, corruption is undermining economic performance, weakening political stability, and even endangering national security. But at what point is the cure – such as the massive purge launched by President Xi Jinping in China – worse than the disease?

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  1. Graft or Growth in China?
    Liu Zhijun china railway minister Fan Rujun/ZumaPress

    Graft or Growth in China?

    May 4, 2015 Yang Yao believes that the benefits of rooting out corruption vastly outweigh the costs.

  2. Good-Government Authoritarianism?
    Corruption sign government politics Erlend Aasland/Flickr

    Good-Government Authoritarianism?

    Apr 23, 2015 Alfred Stepan & Richa Maheshwari argue that, Singapore notwithstanding, democracies are better at fighting corruption.

  3. The Challenge of Russia’s Decline
    Vladimir Putin Alexei Druzhinin/ZumaPress

    The Challenge of Russia’s Decline

    Apr 14, 2015 Joseph S. Nye, Jr. asks how the West can constrain but not isolate a country that has less and less to lose.

  4. The Trials of Asian Democracy
    Malaysia Anwar Ibrahim support sign Hafiz Sohaimi/ZumaPress

    The Trials of Asian Democracy

    Mar 31, 2015 Yuriko Koike considers the political implications of prosecutions aimed at a growing list of opposition leaders.

  5. Dirty Money and Development
    indrawati4_getty images_corruption Getty Images

    Dirty Money and Development

    Jan 30, 2015 Sri Mulyani Indrawati highlights increasingly effective international efforts to rein in illicit financial transactions.

  6. Emperor Xi’s Dilemma
    patten48_Antonio MasielloGetty Images_xi jinping Antonio Masiello/Getty Images

    Emperor Xi’s Dilemma

    Jan 21, 2015 Chris Patten argues that the success of China's anti-corruption drive presupposes a more open society.

  1. fischer122_NurPhotoGettyImages_berlin_wall_35th_leaders1 NurPhoto/Getty Images

    The End of the Liberal West

    Joschka Fischer considers what Donald Trump’s return to the White House will mean for Europe and the post-war world order.
  2. op_disparte1_SadikDemirozGetty Images_digitaldollar FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images

    Trump’s Inflationary Triple Threat

    Maurice Obstfeld

    Contrary to the claims of techno-libertarians like Elon Musk, independent central banks have a decades-long record of successfully controlling inflation. Yet, as the Federal Reserve’s credibility and oversight capabilities become more critical than ever, US President-elect Donald Trump’s policies threaten to undermine them.

    warns that the incoming administration’s agenda would weaken the Fed and destabilize the financial system.
  3. BP trump china MARK RALSTON/AFP via Getty Images

    What Will Trump Do About China?

    US President-elect Donald Trump campaigned on a promise to take a confrontational approach to China, with tariffs as his weapon of choice. But unless his administration adopts a measured approach, his plans may end up harming American businesses and consumers, undermining US democracy, or even leading to military confrontation.

  4. 0

    The Big Picture

  5. karman1_getty images_cooperation Getty Images

    Human Progress in the Trump Era

    Tawakkol Karman, et al. propose ways to foster a culture of cooperation at a time of rising conflict and democratic erosion.
  6. frankel166_JemalCountessGettyImages_national_debt Jemal Countess/Getty Images

    Elon Musk’s $2 Trillion Fiscal Fantasy

    Jeffrey Frankel dives into the incoming US administration’s absurd claim that fresh tax cuts will not increase the deficit.
  7. buchholz21_getty images_us china Getty Images

    The Deal Trump Should Offer China

    Todd G. Buchholz proposes that the incoming US administration push for a debt write-off and market access instead of tariffs.
  8. muzikarova7_NurPhotoGettyImages_cyberconference_poland NurPhoto/Getty Images

    Central and Eastern Europe’s Bid for AI Dominance

    Soňa Muzikárová outlines steps policymakers can take to harness the technology’s potential to boost growth and prosperity.
  9. aosaid1_getty images_tech justice

    Can Technology End Corruption?

    Azalina Othman Said thinks that powerful new digital tools can help, but only if governments commit to upholding the rule of law.

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