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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.

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