Africa Development Indicators 2010 : Silent and Lethal, How Quiet Corruption Undermines Africa's Development

The corruption that often captures newspaper headlines and provokes worldwide public disapproval is dominated by loud 'big-time corruption,' notably administrative and political corruption at the highest government levels. In response to this notoriety, the bulk of anti-corruption measures have been tailored to address this type of corruption. However, recent examinations of the level and quality of service delivery in developing countries, including the World Development Report 2004, have highlighted the need to expand the scope of the standard definition of corruption, the abuse of public office for private gain. While acknowledging the importance of big-time corruption in reducing funding for service delivery, recent research has devoted increasing attention to identifying corrupt practices downstream at the frontline of public service provision. Given the complexity of the task, the fight against quiet corruption requires tailoring policies to country circumstances, recognizing that priorities and responses may vary depending on different country conditions. This essay outlines a research agenda to identify interventions to address quiet corruption. Experimenting with various ways to empower beneficiaries and continuing the ongoing efforts to tackle big-time corruption will go a long way toward achieving this goal. Indeed, although combating loud and visible forms of corruption is necessary, fighting quiet corruption is critical if governments want to reduce poverty and promote sustainable growth.