International Drivers of Corruption
A Tool for Analysis
Corruption and other governance problems result primarily from processes generated within the domestic political economy. There are major international factors, however, that interact with domestic processes: international drivers of corruption. This report introduces an analytical tool to help readers understand how these international drivers of corruption affect governance and corruption at the country level. It provides a means for identifying those drivers that matter most for domestic governance, as well as opportunities for international actors to work more effectively to improve governance in specific country contexts.
Introduction
The global economy and other international influences have powerful effects on governance and corruption at the country level. Many of these “international drivers” can act to undermine accountable governance – for example, through the effects of substantial rents from commodity exports; the ease of depositing illegal earnings securely in financial centres; and the ability to acquire military force through commercial hiring arrangements. However, other drivers can have positive effects. Examples include competition between states to become more investment-friendly, and the exchange of ideas across international professional networks.