r2i forum

I am wondering what determines the corruption level of a countries politicians ? Why is there so much corruption amongst Indian politicians, police etc ? What enables politican parties to be so brazen as to call and enforce national Bandhs in defiance of supreme court judgements ?

What enables crooked politicians to keep getting elected ? Is it the poverty level ? Is it the education level ?

Its not just about India, I'm exploring on a higher level whether the corruption level for any country can be predicted based on certain parameteres.

Just to get the discussion started, I believe one factor is the indifference and passive nature of the more moderate and educated class. Repeatedly, it has come forth how professionals/educated type stay away from voting, and it's the poor people or who decide their votes based on who provides more money/liquor (if it comes as a shock to anyone, don't be..I have seen with my own eyes the liquor being distributed literally to "buy" votes). By no means, this is the only reason.

OP: BTW, you might want to change the title to something like "root causes of corruption in indian politics", the current title is bit vague and not aligned with the contents of your post..

r2i_real;302634Just to get the discussion started, I believe one factor is the indifference and passive nature of the more moderate and educated class. Repeatedly, it has come forth how professionals/educated type stay away from voting, and it's the poor people or who decide their votes based on who provides more money/liquor (if it comes as a shock to anyone, don't be..I have seen with my own eyes the liquor being distributed literally to "buy" votes). By no means, this is the only reason.

OP: BTW, you might want to change the title to something like "root causes of corruption in indian politics", the current title is bit vague and not aligned with the contents of your post..

Its not just about India, I'm exploring on a higher level whether the corruption level for any country can be predicted based on certain parameteres.
Added the clarification to OP

http://www.transparency.org/


This has been referenced in past discussions in other threads on corruption.


What kind of environment does corruption need to thrive in?
As indicated above, corruption thrives where temptation coexists with permissiveness. Where institutional checks on power are missing, where decision making remains obscure, where civil society is thin on the ground, where great inequalities in the distribution of wealth condemn people to live in poverty, which is where corrupt practices flourish. It cannot be stressed enough that corruption is alive and well even where political, economic, legal and social institutions are well entrenched.
For more details on specific conditions, please refer to our Source Book.

There are two levels of corruption:
1. At lower level affecting the masses ( traffic cops, getting drivers license, registration etc)
2. Higher levels ( deals like defense, public construction) amongst minsters etc
3. Legalized corruption like contribution

Corruption = Fn( 4*economy, 3*education, 2*governance, 1*genetics )

In US, there is corruption at higher levels to some extent but mostly its in form of the legalized campaign contributions.

VS007;302879There are two levels of corruption:
1. At lower level affecting the masses ( traffic cops, getting drivers license, registration etc)
2. Higher levels ( deals like defense, public construction) amongst minsters etc
3. Legalized corruption like contribution

Corruption = Fn( 4*economy, 3*education, 2*governance, 1*genetics )

In US, there is corruption at higher levels to some extent but mostly its in form of the legalized campaign contributions.

In USA, bribes are also given disguised as jobs, such as Marketing consultant who never shows up in office but collects salaries. Or a real estate consultant who collects fat fees. These are designed to not run afoul of IRS, so taxes are paid and the whole thing appears very legal because it is a job opening and a job given.