Most Anti-Corruption Programs Have Lacked Key Components

Abstract

The five field studies reported here and published research examined successful and unsuccessful anti-corruption programs, and the processes of corruption in Africa and Central America.  They found most Third World governments' anti-corruption programs have lacked the appropriate mix of strategies and exercises needed to build new behaviors to overcome the core problem of a culture of corruption, or the hysteresis effect.  The five studies led to development and testing of a model anti-corruption program.  Test of the model program showed it could be assimilated by participants who lacked advanced education, and they could achieve an initial operational competence in a relatively brief period of training.  The authors’ five field studies found eight (8) components were necessary for successful anti-corruption programs, and these findings were bolstered by the published research of others that was empirically based.  The eight components are: (1) the actual and visible support of the head of government or C.E.O., (2) behavior modification training for civil servants to build informal social controls and internalize negative reactions to corruption, (3) a public component to build public support and social conscientiousness, (4) a degree of career security for civil servants, (5) laws and formal structures, such as criminal statutes, ethics code, transparency, audit, legislative incentives such as the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, other official and independent oversight, (6) exercises and follow up to operationalize new behaviors and feedback, (7) reduction and streamlining of government licensing and regulation of the economy, and (8) training to build new sensitivities to mission, professionalism, fiduciary duty, and peer group responsibility.  The model program developed and tested included skill building, group exercises, role-playing, cohort projects, and practice scripts.