Social Consequences Of Corruption

Corruption is a pandemic problem that cuts across all cultures around the world. However, some societies have reduced corruption to a minimum by using several strategies while others struggle with the consequences of the vice. This paper examines the types of corruption practices, causes of corruption, consequences of corruption and propose collective and individual strategies to deal with the problem.

Corruption has been defined in different ways. Scholars define corruption as the abuse of entrusted power for private gain at the expense of the public good (Karklins 2002). On the other hand, Stapenhurst (2000), defines corruption as the abuse of public power for personal gain or for the benefit of a group to which one owes allegiance. The biggest

First, on the economic aspect, corruption cripples equal competition in the market and which then decreases economic efficiency. This means the more a country is the difficult it is to attract favourable investments that helps to move the country forward.

Second, corruption endangers the lives of citizens. When resources meant for the public are diverted or mismanaged, it is the citizens who will bear the consequences. For instance, in large infrastructure projects such as dams, bridges, highways, and school buildings, developers may resort to corrupt practices by using substandard quality which may later put the lives of the people at risk.

Third, public corruption generates injustice and mistrust in the government, which creates conflicts between citizens and the government.

Fourth, corruption may have a long-term damage to the cultural system in a society. With time people come to tolerate practices such as lying, fraud and theft by others. Such activities will spread widely and deeply to every corner of a society and ultimately become institutionalized (Zhang & Vargas-Hernández,

Collective strategies involve actors such as the government, the civil society, the media, and the private sector while the individual strategies involve citizens.

The can government play a major role in fighting corruption through several measures. The foremost measures is to make sure that the rule of law prevails. Corruption thrives when the powerful persons in the society will get away with corruption related crimes. Therefore, in order for the anti-corruption laws to be efficient, the government must ensure that no one is above the law.

Accountability and transparency is also a mechanism that the government must adopt in order to eliminate corruption. Systems of checks and balances in government structures form the core of good governance *

Another stakeholder in the fight against corruption is the media. The media can act as a force against corruption in various ways. For example, by being a whistle blower by reporting about corruption which may prompt public bodies to launch formal investigations into allegations of corruption. Stapenhurst (2000) adds that corruption can be put on check if the media exposes corruption within the various bodies of the