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Article Information:
Title:
Corruption: measuring the unmeasurable
Author(s):
Asad Zaman, Faiz-Ur-Rahim
Journal:
Year:
2009
Volume:
Issue:
Page:
117 - 126
ISSN:
0828-8666
DOI:
10.1108/08288660910964184
Publisher:
Emerald Group Publishing Limited
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Abstract:
Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to argue that corruption is inherently unmeasurable. Measures of corruption produced by different sources are highly unsatisfactory. Useful measures may be possible for specific purposes in limited contexts. Reasons why highly unsatisfactory measures are in use have to do with politics and power, rather than utility of these measures.
Design/methodology/approach – The paper shows that different dimensions of corruption cannot be reduced to a single number without serious loss of information. For example the number and size of bribes cannot be reduced to a single index. The difference between perceptions of corruption and the reality also makes most popular indices useless.
Findings – The paper shows that commonly used measures of corruption are useless for their ostensible purposes. Evidence is presented that they are calculated and used for political purposes. In particular, they provide convenient excuses for the widespread failure of the structural adjustment programs of IMF and World Bank.
Originality/value – The paper's findings cast doubt on the vast amount of research which takes the corruption measures as objective and factual, and attempts to find causal factors for corruption, as well as effects of corruption on growth and other variables.
Keywords:
Corruption, Perception, Quantitative methods
Article Type:
Conceptual paper