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Detecting Corruption: Evidence from a World Bank project in Kenya

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  • Ensminger, Jean
  • Leder-Luis, Jetson

Abstract

Corruption is a major problem in development aid, in part because areas with the greatest need for development assistance often have weak governance. In these environments, traditional anti-fraud measures such as audits or criminal enforcement are limited in their effectiveness. Moreover, aid organizations face incentives to downplay bad outcomes for fear of alienating donors, which has led to the suppression of negative findings related to development aid fraud.

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  • Ensminger, Jean & Leder-Luis, Jetson, 2025. "Detecting Corruption: Evidence from a World Bank project in Kenya," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 188(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:wdevel:v:188:y:2025:i:c:s0305750x24003280
    DOI: 10.1016/j.worlddev.2024.106858
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Development aid; Fraud; Detection;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D73 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Bureaucracy; Administrative Processes in Public Organizations; Corruption
    • H83 - Public Economics - - Miscellaneous Issues - - - Public Administration
    • O22 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Development Planning and Policy - - - Project Analysis
    • M42 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Accounting - - - Auditing
    • C49 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric and Statistical Methods: Special Topics - - - Other

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