Political Corruption Research Articles

Analyzing the Challenges and Barriers to Develop State Civil Apparatus Competency Through Talent Management Development After the Release of the National Succession Planning System

Indonesia has transitioned from a public service management model to one to improve service delivery and competitiveness. However, this change faces challenges of efficiency in processes, human resource structures, and bureaucracy. Public distrust and State Civil Apparatus (ASN) non-compliance with the flow of reform pose challenges to increasing ASN competency and leadership reform. The implementation of breakthroughs in the development of public services still cannot prevent corruption both in regional and central government. Corruption does not only occur in the fiscal sector but also the ‘buying and selling’ positions due to the ASN’s low integrity. Regulation of the Minister of State Apparatus Empowerment and Bureaucratic Reform of the Republic of Indonesia Number 38 of 2017 concerning Competency Standards for State Civil Apparatus Positions requires that a State Civil Apparatus must have technical, managerial, and socio-cultural competence, which is constrained by the application of rules related to functional positions and career development, the institutionalization of the ASN’ workplace, and development of ASN training institutions. These constraints influence the ASN’s desire to develop. Thus, an integrated succession planning system for competency development which involves public participation is needed to prevent corruption, collusion, and nepotism in its implementation.

Региональные аспекты политической коррупции: методы и технологии

The purpose of the article is to analyze modern methods and techniques for implementing political corruption. To achieve this goal, the authors rely on a neo-institutional methodological approach. The negative consequences of corruption are observed in various spheres of public life. Corruption is especially destructive for political and socio-economic systems. When analyzing the political manifestations of corruption, it is necessary to take into account the economic and geopolitical situation. Thus, in conditions of partial international isolation of Russia, external threats to economic security are significantly increasing, the volume of shadow entrepreneurship is increasing, which can negatively affect the economic security of the region, the country and national security in general. This article examines the possibility of the presence of objective needs of subjects of management decisions in the processes of institutionalization of corruption relationships. Problems of integration of political corruption into the managerial and political-legal subsystems are addressed, which, according to the authors, leads to multiple functional distortions in the system of state institutions in the interests of latent structures. The authors note that real achievements in the fight against corruption become possible only through the interaction of civil society with the bodies and institutions of state power, the actualization of the values of civil activism in the sociopolitical participation of citizens.

Supervision System for Indonesia’s Government E-Procurement of Goods and Services

Using normative legal research with a statutory approach and a case approach, this research is prescriptive and analysed using descriptive qualitative methods after collecting data through the literature. In this research, Indonesia has entered the world of digital technology, including in terms of government procurement of goods and services. In order to reduce indications of Corruption, Collusion and Nepotism (KKN) in government, the procurement process for goods and services is carried out through electronic media. Ethics in the procurement of goods and services is good behaviour from all parties involved in the procurement process. The principles that need to be applied in the procurement of goods and services include efficiency, effectiveness, transparency, openness, competition, fairness/non-discrimination, and accountability. To fulfil this principle, a maximum supervision system is needed, so that there is a need for an electronic-based audit system to make it easier for inspection officials to carry out inspections in real time. Apart from that, the Business Competition Supervisory Commission is also one of the institutions authorized to maintain the stability of the procurement of goods and services in Indonesia.

Re-examining the curse of natural resources in SSA: New evidence from disaggregated natural resources and types of corruption

Understanding how corruption affects the relationship between natural resources and growth has profound implications for sustainable development goals in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). This study investigates the nexus between natural resources, economic growth, and corruption in SSA from 1985 to 2022, by employing a Panel Smooth Transition Regression model. Results indicate that corruption distorts natural resources and lowers economic growth. The magnitude of the effect of corruption depends on the type of corruption. The impact of political corruption is more relevant than the others form of corruption. In a low corruption regime, mineral, oil, and forest resources do not affect growth; (b) in a high corruption regime, oil and forest resources hinder growth whereas mineral resources lead to higher economic growth. The analysis highlights the need for policy measures that encourage sustainable economic development and promoting reinforcement of institutional quality.

Shadows of political corruption amidst the trend of declining democracy in Indonesia: Learning from the dynamics of 2024 Presidential Election

This conceptual article is based on primary and secondary data from various sources discussing the dynamics of Indonesian politics and democracy through the 2024 General Election. This article aims to identify various alleged political corruption practices as well as to evaluate the development of the quality of Indonesian democracy implied by the 2024 political process. Although allegations of political corruption are believed to be common among many groups, proving them legally and politically is not easy to do. This leaves a number of notes, especially regarding the nature of power and the trend of weakening the quality of democracy in the country. The 2024 General Election provided some valuable lessons that the aspects of neutrality and independence of state power should be of common concern to reorganize and increase the quality of the future Indonesian democracy.

Convicting Corrupt Officials: Evidence from Randomly Assigned Cases

Abstract Can the judiciary help root out government corruption? This article exploits the random assignment of court cases to justices who exhibit varying degrees of strictness to examine how convicting corrupt officials affects local government outcomes in the Philippines. I document that convictions improve the management of local public finances and reduce associated corruption. An exploration of mechanisms suggests that legal deterrence effects contribute to these findings. The results further indicate that convictions are effective at stifling corruption among bureaucrats, but not politicians. Consistent with this heterogeneity, convictions reduce electoral competition and consequently weaken accountability for incumbent politicians.

Corruption and controlling shareholders

Abstract Controlling shareholders have been directly involved in some of the largest and most consequential bribery scandals in the world over the course of the last decade. Nevertheless, the academic literature and the dominant international model of anticorruption law have neglected the dynamics and implications of controlling shareholder involvement in the payment of bribes. We argue that controlling shareholders, especially in family-controlled firms, may be uniquely positioned to lead corrupt schemes. We then analyze the incidence of this phenomenon in recent U.S. enforcement actions under the FCPA and in Brazilian enforcement actions under the Car Wash (Lava Jato) anticorruption operation. Controlled companies account for a minority of the FCPA cases, but for a large majority of the Brazilian cases. Controlling shareholders were implicated in a significant portion of actions against controlled companies in both contexts. We argue that the dominant international model, which is premised on organizational liability and incentives for compliance programs, is ill-suited to addressing cases of bribery led by controlling shareholders, and call for a distinct array of legal responses.

Sistem Proporsional Terbuka Bukan Akar Politik Uang Dalam Pemilu

The influence of an open proportional representation system with a majority vote does not explain the rise of money politics and political corruption after the election period. Systemically, the influence of the electoral system is aimed more at establishing a stable party system and modeling coalition models to produce a model of political balance in managing relations between the Government and Parliament. Meanwhile, the quality of the implementation of the electoral system is actually determined by the quality of the institutionalization of political parties, including the tendency of the type of party. Money politics is the result of the poor quality of political institutions in a type of party that only focuses on electoral interests.

Croatia: Political Developments and Data in 2023

AbstractIn 2023, Croatia joined both the euro and the Schengen area, thus completing full EU integration. No elections were held, and the Parliament experienced some minor cases of floor crossing while the government, although maintaining its party composition, reshuffled four ministers. The opposition criticized the government over political corruption and infringements upon media freedom.

China Lending and the Political Economy of Leader Survival

What are the political implications of Chinese loans to borrowing countries? Our argument is that similar to other forms of international finance, loans from China provide leaders with additional resources to maintain their power. The nature of China’s lending practices—characterized by an absence of good governance conditions—offers a unique advantage to political leaders, allowing corrupt leaders who receive loans from China to stay in power for longer periods. To support this argument, we conducted an analysis of a dataset of 115 developing countries from 2000 to 2015, focusing on the relationship between Chinese loans and leaders' political survival. Our findings indicate that Chinese loans positively impact leader survival, with the strongest effects observed in more corrupt regimes. To address endogeneity concerns, we employ a shift-share instrumentation strategy and several additional tests. Our analysis underscores the importance of Chinese lending to both international and domestic politics.

Pre-enlargement Reform Failures in the Western Balkans: Social and Economic Preconditions of the Rule of Law

In this paper, I investigate the attempts of the European Union to promote and entrench the rule of law standards in the Western Balkans countries. I examine the failures of legal reforms in key policy areas, such as the regulations of judicial independence, the legislative branch of government, vetting and suppression of corruption, that prevent progress in achieving the rule of law standards. I demonstrate how a narrow focus on the judiciary and its performance has harmed the standards. I propose a more specific focus on socio–economic reforms that, at first glance, appear less relevant to the rule of law. These are: higher education reforms, digitalization, decarbonization, and better targeting of anti-corruption measures. More focus on these areas allows a refocusing from a narrow conception of rule of law to other good governance reforms.

Socio-economic issues and bank stability: The moderating role of competition

Bank stability has emerged as an area of colossal importance for economic and social well-being, especially in the aftermath of the global financial crisis of 2007–2008. Therefore, this paper examines the impact of socio-economic factors like corruption, political risk, and financial inclusion on the stability of banks. It also investigates whether bank competition interacts with socio-economic factors for the impact on bank stability. Through the use of a dynamic panel estimator and international bank data on country-level indicators spanning 139 nations from 2011 to 2021, our findings indicate that political risk and corruption impede bank stability while financial inclusion promotes it. Subsequent, investigation reveals that competition lessens the detrimental impact of corruption on bank stability while enhancing the stabilizing effects of financial inclusion and political risk. These findings have implications for regulators, government, and bank management in achieving social welfare and bank stability simultaneously.

ROLE OF GOVERNANCE IN TRANSITION FROM MIDDLE-INCOME TRAP

This study examines the role of governance in transitioning from middle-to high-income status in 20 countries. All the growth models indicate that the rule of law plays a significant role. Significant interactions among government effectiveness were observed in the post-transition period. A significant effect of political stability and corruption control and a significant interaction effect of government effectiveness were also observed in the transition to high income, using extended Cox regression. The probit regression revealed that the interaction of low government effectiveness, low insurance, heavy reliance on agriculture, high fertility rates, high inflation, limited foreign investment and excessive public debt posed obstacles to achieving high-income status. The weak rule of law, corruption control and regulatory quality also affected the failure of the 42 upper-middle-income countries to reach a high-income level.

Representation of Social Issues in Indian Graphic Novels

The study intends to uncover the significant commentary these works offer on current themes like gender dynamics, caste discrimination, governmental corruption, religious tensions, and the challenges of modernity, by analyzing a varied spectrum of graphic novels coming out of the subcontinent. We shed light on how these graphic novels not only represent the socio-political environment of India but also question and modify narratives by combining qualitative content analysis and in-depth case studies. Our research highlights the importance of graphic novels as effective social critique mediums in India, echoing wider global trends where visual storytelling goes beyond just amusement to provide insightful social commentary

The influence of political disagreements and corruption on state health leader turnover during the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil

PurposeGovernments faced formidable challenges in coordinating public health responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aims to enhance the understanding of effective organizational leadership during crises by investigating the factors influencing the turnover of health leaders during the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil.Design/methodology/approachUsing primary data encompassing all appointments and dismissals of federal and state health secretaries, this paper conducted a quantitative analysis of the relational and reputational factors that contributed to leader turnover during the COVID-19 pandemic. This paper also examined whether leaders’ management and public health experience increase the duration of tenure.FindingsStates encountered significant challenges in retaining experienced and effective leadership during the health emergency, primarily due to political conflicts in policymaking and, to a lesser extent, allegations of corruption. Furthermore, leaders with expertise in public health were found to be less likely to be removed from office. However, managerial experience did not prolong the tenure of state health secretaries during the emergency.Research limitations/implicationsSince most health leaders have public health and management experience, the contributions of each factor to the duration of a secretary’s tenure are difficult to separate and analyze separately.Practical implicationsThis study provides empirical insights into what factors drive health leader turnover during major health emergencies.Social implicationsDuring major health emergencies, health leaders often strongly disagree with elected officials on the response. This paper test how crisis leadership theories help explain state health leaders’ duration in one of the world’s largest public health systems during the COVID-19 pandemic. This paper find that policy disagreements contributed to significant turnover.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors’ knowledge, this paper is the first that are aware of that uses novel primary data on public health executive leader characteristics and turnover causes in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. It provides empirical evidence contributing to the crisis leadership literature by examining health leader turnover in one of the world’s largest public health systems.

Social media and the rise of radical right populism in Portugal: the communicative strategies of André Ventura on X in the 2022 elections

In the context of media studies, the theme of populism in its relation to digital media has gained a great prominence in the last decade. The emergence of new populist political actors that use direct communication to appeal to the people without intermediaries, as well as the consolidation of digital social networks, involve interfaces between media and political processes that we intend to observe, having as object the scenario of the Portuguese Legislative Elections of 2022. Indeed, in this article we address how the populist communication of André Ventura, leader of the Portuguese radical right party, Chega, is constructed during the election campaign period. To analyze the discursive mechanisms of populism in the digital realm, we conducted a study of the corpus derived from André Ventura’s posts on the social media platform X, previously known as Twitter, during the month of January 2022, coinciding with the electoral campaign period. We sought to describe the discursive strategies present in the construction of the representation of “people”, considering the polarization “us versus them”, and examine the meanings of the world mobilized by populist communication in opposition to out-groups identified as “enemies” of the pure or authentic people. The results of our content analysis, focusing on the 143 tweets constituting Ventura’s narrative during the election period, indicate parallels with the discursive tactics of radical right populism. These include a narrative emphasizing conflict between “us and them,” a spotlight on the dysfunctions within the democratic system, the glorification of integrity in the face of political corruption, nativist discourse, and a prevailing tendency towards negative communication.

How does political instability affect renewable energy innovation?

This paper investigates how political instability affects the development of renewable energy innovation (REI) through empirical analysis of cross-country data from 60 countries over the period of 2002–2020. The results show that political instability has a negative impact on renewable energy innovation, particularly in countries with a robust renewable energy technology base. Specifically, every single type of renewable energy technology has decreased in response to political instability, with wind and solar being the most affected. We also find the non-linearity of such impact with different levels of government corruption, democracy, and military expenditure based on the threshold effect analysis. Therefore, governance quality matters when confronting political instability. Further analysis indicates that economic growth, technological development, and public R&D for renewable energy technologies are the mediating channels. These results provide significant policy implications and a better understanding of national innovation activities in renewable energy.

Corruption Crackdown and Firm News Sentiment

ABSTRACT This study examines the relationship between the corruption of local officials and news sentiment regarding publicly listed Chinese firms. We find that corruption crackdowns lead to lower sentiment scores for released news. Moreover, we observe an underlying mechanism that corruption crackdown discourages firms from hoarding bad news, resulting in a lower sentiment score for released news. In addition, we find that firms that politically depend on local government and information asymmetry problems record lower news sentiment scores after corruption crackdowns. Overall, our results indicate that the local political environment is key in determining news sentiment.

The Effect of Regional Financial Characteristics and Transparency on Corruption Potential: Study on Regency / City Governments in Indonesia in 2020-2022

This research aims to provide more in-depth knowledge regarding the influence of regional financial characteristics and transparency on the potential for corruption in regional government. This research uses district/city governments in Indonesia in 2020-2022 as research objects, using 250 district/city governments that meet the predetermined sample criteria and an observation period of 3 years so that the observation data amounts to 750. The research data is in the form of secondary data taken from the Softcopy Attachment of the BPK Semester I Examination Results Summary, Regional Government Financial Reports, and the official website of each district/city government. The analysis method uses SPSS version 25 with multiple linear regression methods. The results of this research conclude that employee expenditure and regional financial independence have a negative effect on the potential for corruption in district/city governments. Capital expenditure has a positive effect on the potential for corruption in district/city governments. Meanwhile, transparency has no effect on the potential for corruption in district/city governments.

A Critical Analysis of Economic, Political, and Financial Determinants Influencing Location Choices of Foreign Direct Investments

This paper critically examines the determinants influencing the location choices of foreign direct investments (FDI), focusing on economic, political, and financial risks. The research explores how country risks—political stability, corruption levels, and democratic accountability—affect multinational corporations' (MNCs) decisions to invest. It also investigates financial risks, particularly exchange rate volatility, and its impact on FDI, finding that higher volatility deters investment. Additionally, the paper evaluates economic risks such as inflation, GDP, and unemployment rates, revealing their dual role in both attracting and deterring FDI. Using data from various countries, the study concludes that countries with stable governments, low corruption, democratic accountability, stable exchange rates, and healthy economic indicators are more attractive to FDI. This analysis helps MNCs make informed decisions about investing in different international markets.