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Article
Publication date: 2 July 2019

Nicholas Bautista-Beauchesne and César Garzon

Existing reviews about corruption and anti-corruption have yet to treat the subject of prevention as the main focus of inquiry. The purpose of this paper is to address this need…

Abstract

Purpose

Existing reviews about corruption and anti-corruption have yet to treat the subject of prevention as the main focus of inquiry. The purpose of this paper is to address this need by analyzing definitions, theoretical underpinnings, methods and sectors of interest within published academic articles. By doing so, the main objective is to clarify the theoretical and conceptual foundations of the prevention of corruption.

Design/methodology/approach

The research design consists of a systematic literature review, which uses a keyword-string search method across relevant databases. A qualitative and quantitative coding scheme was implemented to provide descriptive statistics.

Findings

Results show a need for methodological diversity, theoretical debate and a clarification of the definitional foundations of corruption prevention. Specifically, the results underline a need for more interdisciplinary collaboration between the various fields that study the issue. To this end, a conceptualization of corruption prevention is proposed, built around a two by two matrix, to synthesize existing definitions and spark scholarly debate.

Practical implications

This paper contributes to the field of anti-corruption on a theoretical level by highlighting the current strengths and weaknesses of the inroads made by the existing literature. Moreover, on a practical research level, this paper suggests fruitful lines of inquiry to channel a rapidly expanding field of study.

Social implications

This paper underlines the need for corruption prevention policymaking to take note of the broad literature emanating from multiple social science disciplines. This paper also underlines the need for policy implementation to consider the socio-historical context and definitional idiosyncrasies of corruption for policy effectiveness.

Originality/value

A core original contribution of this paper is to advance a definition and conceptualization of corruption prevention. Using two conceptual axes – focus and scope – prevention tools are categorized and analyzed to spark further scholarly debate.

Details

Journal of Financial Crime, vol. 26 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1359-0790

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 10 January 2022

Madina О. Kassimova, Yerbol A. Omarov, Ramazan R. Zhilkaidarov, Yerlan S. Abulgazin and Ainur A. Sabitova

The fight against corruption, which undermines the efficiency of the state apparatus and public confidence in public institutions, remains one of the critical present-day tasks…

Abstract

Purpose

The fight against corruption, which undermines the efficiency of the state apparatus and public confidence in public institutions, remains one of the critical present-day tasks. In this regard, the purpose of this study is to identify the available possibilities and real practice of law enforcement of the norms on investigative prevention, the practical significance of this institution and its potential.

Design/methodology/approach

The study investigated theoretical materials on criminological prevention, legislative norms and available law enforcement practice.

Findings

It was discovered that, in general, the available statutory regulation is insufficient for the full-fledged practical implementation of the potential of investigative prevention. An exception is specialised prevention, assigned as one of the main tasks to the Agency of the Republic of Kazakhstan for Combating Corruption. Proposals have been formulated to improve anti-corruption investigative prevention in other bodies of pre-trial investigation, considering the identified risks.

Originality/value

The uniqueness of the situation lies in the fact that the existence of the institution of investigative prevention, in fact, is limited to the post-Soviet space. The elimination of formalism in the approach to this method of crime prevention can contribute to greater efficiency in the fight against crime, including corruption.

Details

Journal of Financial Crime, vol. 30 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1359-0790

Keywords

Abstract

Details

Empowerment, Transparency, Technological Readiness and their Influence on Financial Performance, from a Latin American Perspective
Type: Book
ISBN: 978-1-80117-382-7

Article
Publication date: 1 April 2006

H. Labuschagne and G. Els

The Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act, Act 12 of 2004, was instituted to curb corrupt activities. It imposes a duty on people in positions of authority to report…

Abstract

The Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act, Act 12 of 2004, was instituted to curb corrupt activities. It imposes a duty on people in positions of authority to report corrupt or suspected corrupt activities and related activities. However, auditors are not listed in this Act as persons in a position of authority. This article discusses whether, despite the fact that the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act does not place such a reporting duty on an auditor, auditors nevertheless have a duty in terms of other legislation to report any unlawful activities that they uncover in the course of their work, or which they suspect to have been committed. The article also examines whether auditors are required to consider the risk of corruption.

Article
Publication date: 2 January 2018

Adam Graycar and Adam B. Masters

Corruption undermines good governance. Strategies for preventing malfeasance in low-corruption environments require a different approach to that applied in high-corruption

Abstract

Purpose

Corruption undermines good governance. Strategies for preventing malfeasance in low-corruption environments require a different approach to that applied in high-corruption environments. This paper aims to ask if criminological theories and practice contribute to the study and prevention of corruption in public organizations? Do crime prevention techniques help us in preventing corruption?

Design/methodology/approach

Empirical data demonstrate that the overwhelming majority of public officials in rich countries demonstrate high levels of integrity; yet, significant sums are invested in anti-corruption agencies and prevention strategies. This paper reports on recent work with an anti-corruption agency, which forced us to re-think how to deliver an anti-corruption agenda in a low-corruption environment. The authors build on their research of public sector corruption in rich countries to develop a set of 20 situational corruption prevention measures for public administrators.

Findings

The result, with lessons from crime prevention, is a prevention tool to support continued good governance in low-corruption environments. Figure 1 is a template that readers can apply in their own environments. Figure 2 is the authors’ attempt to populate this template based on the research reported here.

Originality/value

The matrix of situational corruption prevention techniques provides two original approaches. First, it recasts the language of crime prevention into a non-confrontational approach to avoid alienating honest public officials. Second, the matrix incorporates common public sector functions to guide the development of context specific corruption prevention techniques.

Details

Journal of Financial Crime, vol. 25 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1359-0790

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 October 2018

Hendi Yogi Prabowo and Suhernita Suhernita

Based on the authors’ study, the purpose of this paper is to establish a foundation for assessing and deciding the most feasible corruption prevention activities with significant…

Abstract

Purpose

Based on the authors’ study, the purpose of this paper is to establish a foundation for assessing and deciding the most feasible corruption prevention activities with significant impact in reducing corruption in the Indonesian public sector. To accomplish this objective, this paper applies multiple theoretical perspectives simultaneously to better understand the behavioral aspects of corruption prevention strategy in Indonesia.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is part of the authors’ study to assess the corruption problem in the Indonesian public sector in the past decade primarily through examination of major corruption cases to highlight various behavioral issues that became the root causes of rampaging corruption in the country. This paper also discusses how such issues undermine the effectiveness of the existing corruption prevention strategy as well as how to properly address them.

Findings

The authors establish that there are numerous overlooked behavioral issues that have rendered existing corruption prevention measures in the Indonesian public sector ineffective in hampering the regeneration of corruption. Gaining sufficient understanding on how public officials’ view on corruption is shaped by their culture and society is crucial in ascertaining what needs to be done to prevent corruption from reoccurring in the future. This study demonstrates that transformative learning needs to be systematically carried out to re-engineer organizational mindset to make it intolerant to corruption which includes unlearning the embedded knowledge of corruption. To support the execution of organizational unlearning discernment must be exercised to enable anti-corruption messages to be sent to the target groups. Nevertheless, due to various inherent behavioral issues within the Indonesian public institutions stimulating anti-corruption discernment is in itself a profound challenge. To promote anti-corruption discernment in the Indonesian public sector, this study proposes the Shame-oriented Anti-corruption Discernment Stimulation (SADS) which focuses on the “management of shame” in stimulating anti-corruption discernment within public institutions in Indonesia.

Research limitations/implications

This study is self-funded and is relying primarily on documentary analysis in highlighting the behavioral issues that determine the success and failure of corruption prevention strategy in Indonesia. Future studies may benefit from interviews with experts in Indonesian culture as well as indigenous people who can offer a broader view on how self-conscious emotions such as shame and guilt are actually experienced in different regions in Indonesia.

Practical implications

This paper contributes to the development of corruption prevention strategy by proposing a framework for systematically stimulating anti-corruption discernment within organizations that are part of collectivistic societies.

Originality/value

This paper highlights the importance of behavior-oriented approaches in mitigating corruption in the Indonesian public sector.

Details

Journal of Financial Crime, vol. 25 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1359-0790

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 5 January 2015

Eiji Oyamada

– The purpose of this paper is to analyze recent Japanese corruption prevention mechanisms and assess the efforts of the Japanese government in winning public trust.

1095

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyze recent Japanese corruption prevention mechanisms and assess the efforts of the Japanese government in winning public trust.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper discusses public sector corruption in Japan at an institutional level through a study of its features and current status. It then analyzes and evaluates the effectiveness of corruption prevention measures and the public perceptions of these measures. The paper concludes with a discussion on whether such measures can be adopted by other countries.

Findings

Recent preventive measures in Japan are effective in decreasing corruption opportunities, but not in enhancing the public trust of the government. Major findings are: first, Japan is the only Asian country without a dedicated anti-corruption agency (ACA); second, there is more emphasis on corruption prevention in the anti-corruption measures; third, the government is concerned with initiating measures to prevent the further erosion of public trust when corruption occurs; fourth, while preventive measures such as public disclosure and whistle-blower protection acts are in place, public awareness of their existence is still lacking and the usage of these systems is limited; fifth, more efforts are placed on prevention through the promotion of government transparency and accountability and public sector ethics education rather than penalizing the corrupt offenders; and sixth, though efforts to minimize amakudari practices are made, lack of political will and its sustainability prevents further reform.

Originality/value

This paper will be useful for scholars, policy-makers, and anti-corruption practitioners interested in learning how Japanese government practices prevent corruption.

Details

Asian Education and Development Studies, vol. 4 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2046-3162

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 8 May 2018

Dominic Peltier-Rivest

This paper aims to investigate the extent of corruption globally, explains its social and economic consequences and introduces a model, composed of corporate governance…

3390

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the extent of corruption globally, explains its social and economic consequences and introduces a model, composed of corporate governance mechanisms, internal controls and red flag analyses, which organizations can apply to prevent corruption.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses criminology theories to analyze corruption and its prevention.

Findings

The global cost of bribery alone is estimated at US$1tn annually, not including costs resulting from non-completion and deficient completion of development projects (World Bank Institute, 2004). This paper shows that an effective prevention model should include a positive work environment and ethical governance; the implementation of a compliance risk management program with fraud risk assessments; an accessible psychological assistance program for employees; regular employee anti-fraud training; the implementation of targeted internal controls such as proper segregation of organizational duties; the adoption of fair compensation levels and realistic individual performance goals; a user-friendly and anonymous reporting mechanism; and independent and regular analyses of abnormal patterns (red flags).

Research limitations/implications

This paper extends previous research by tying together disparate factors into a cohesive model for the prevention of corruption.

Practical implications

The prevention model developed in this paper assists in deterring corruption, improving internal controls, improving the likelihood of detection and reducing opportunities to perpetrate corruption. By reducing the risk of corruption, this model also helps organizations and governments reduce project costs (public spending) and improve project quality, thus promoting economic competitiveness.

Originality/value

A comprehensive prevention model is developed to help curtail corruption and its devastating effects.

Details

Journal of Financial Crime, vol. 25 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1359-0790

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 5 October 2015

Anastasia Suhartati Lukito

The purpose of this paper is to examine the role of private sector in Indonesia to prevent and combat corruption practices. The eradication of corruption is not only the…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the role of private sector in Indonesia to prevent and combat corruption practices. The eradication of corruption is not only the government’s problem which can be solved only by government regulations. The private sector should be involved in and be aware of these matters because of the huge interest of the business activities concerning national interest as well as their private interest to achieve highest profit.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper explores the Indonesian laws on corruption eradication and analyzes the important role of the private sector that needs to be built.

Findings

The role of private sector in the financial system can be viewed as a non-penal policy, which has a great impact as a prevention method to combat economic crimes such as corruption. A new perspective is needed to build, balance and integrate the role of the private sector. As a new perspective combating corruption, Indonesian Laws on Corruption Eradication is fostering the role of the private sector in promoting integrity and good corporate governance.

Practical implications

The paper can be a source to explore the eradication of corruption based on Indonesian perspectives.

Originality/value

This paper contributes by encouraging the private sector to prevent corruption and bribery practices, which, nowadays, are common in Indonesia.

Details

Journal of Financial Crime, vol. 22 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1359-0790

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 5 October 2012

Adam Graycar and Aiden Sidebottom

Corruption is a significant financial crime which is estimated by the World Economic Forum to cost about 5 per cent of global GDP or $2.6 trillion dollars. Explanations of…

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Abstract

Purpose

Corruption is a significant financial crime which is estimated by the World Economic Forum to cost about 5 per cent of global GDP or $2.6 trillion dollars. Explanations of corruption, like explanations of crime, tend to focus on the individuals who commit corruption and the wider conditions which give rise to corrupt behaviour. Approaches designed to reduce corruption usually propose stiffer sanctions, institutional reforms and the passing of new laws. The purpose of this paper is to outline a complementary perspective with which to consider corruption.

Design/methodology/approach

Grounded in situational crime prevention and related criminological theory, the paper argues that opportunities in the immediate environment play a causal role in generating corruption. It proposes that corruption can be minimised by removing or reducing opportunities which are conducive to corrupt behaviour. In total, five cases are chosen as illustrative examples of how situational crime prevention might usefully be applied to corruption, focussing on the Type, Activities, Sectors and Places (TASP) that comprise corruption events.

Findings

A framework is developed for the empirical study of corruption in local settings.

Originality/value

The paper explores how situational crime prevention can usefully inform the analysis and prevention of corruption.

Details

Journal of Financial Crime, vol. 19 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1359-0790

Keywords

1 – 10 of over 4000