Corruption - is it good or bad ?

The given article has been published in the basis of The BBC Daily World News Service.  

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/console/p0071pnm

   The questions discussed in this podcast are:
1. Corruption, economy and living standards.
2. Why some economists think corruption to be a good thing?
3. Which are the best ways of minimizing the corruption?

I. Probably everyone knows that corruption is one of the main barriers against the improvement of economy. It makes the policy of the government weaker and of course decreases the level of social provision of the population of a country. In the report of The Human Rights Watch organization about the living standards in Angola we can see the negative effect of corruption on social life of Angolans. According to this report: "Although Angola is one of the biggest oil producing countries of the Saharan Africa, big part of its population lives in famine and disadvantage. The per day oil production in Angola is 1,8 million barrels and the price is 70-80 $ for each barrel. This means that Angola is already a rich country". 

The Angolans say: "Who has money, lives well", "We don't feel any benefit from the side of profitable organizations".

But there is a real fact that the government spends much money on making the living standards of the Angolans better. And main question: How effectively is this money spent? Is it spent on direct objectives or is it rush into someone's pocket? 

Most economists think that right corruption creates such bad situation in Angola.


II. As viewed by some economists, corruption is an activator (a catalyst) of economic growth. (WHAT?) For example: If you want to provide your products to sellers or smb. else or to export them, you would give a particular sum of money to relevant people. In other words, you will be a direct participant of corruption and will provide your goods sooner and sure this will increase the efficiency. These economists even consider that, the present high level economic situation of some countries, such as China, Indonesia and Thailand, has been provided with the help of corruption. 

III. As it was mentioned above, corruption isn't really a good thing and most countries are looking for the methods of fighting against it. As for some economists, the best dictator , who could fight against the corruption is  the leader, who can create stability in business environment of the country. Otherwise, corruption will create more advantages for expanding of the dirty business, like as mafia and so on... 

                                             

                            Thank you for attention!