Corruption in India: Bridging Research Evidence and Policy Options

India Policy Forum 11 (July 2015): 193-261

79 Pages Posted: 5 Nov 2015

See all articles by Sandip Sukhtankar

Sandip Sukhtankar

Dartmouth College

Milan Vaishnav

Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

Date Written: April 27, 2015

Abstract

Corruption has become an increasingly salient issue in India today, spawning both enormous interest from the media as well as a large amount of academic research. Yet there is a large gap between what has captured the media’s attention, the policy options under discussion, and the actual evidence base drawn from empirical research on corruption. We attempt to bridge this gap, directly addressing the particular challenges that corruption in India poses. Academic evidence supports the popular perception that corruption is widespread and endemic. However, we find that the costs of day-to-day corruption are just as large, if not larger, than those of the “scams” that dominate headlines. Further, we find that there is very little evidence to support the idea that greater transparency, information, and community based efforts have a significant impact on reducing corruption on their own. This is also true for some technological interventions, although those interventions – like direct benefit transfers – that bypass middlemen and corrupt officials have a much greater scope for success, as do interventions that transfer bargaining power to citizens and beneficiaries. We find much to commend in the sensible and wide-ranging legislative agenda to combat corruption, including the Right to Service and Public Procurement bills. However, what is most important for combating corruption is not the law on paper but the implementation of the law; the binding constraint, as always, is the government’s desire and ability to punish corrupt officials and politicians.

Keywords: corruption, India, policy, political economy

JEL Classification: D4, D73, H10, H40, H83, K42, O10

Suggested Citation

Sukhtankar, Sandip and Vaishnav, Milan, Corruption in India: Bridging Research Evidence and Policy Options (April 27, 2015). India Policy Forum 11 (July 2015): 193-261, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2685819

Sandip Sukhtankar

Dartmouth College ( email )

Milan Vaishnav (Contact Author)

Carnegie Endowment for International Peace ( email )

1779 Massachusetts Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20036
United States

HOME PAGE: http://milanvaishnav.com

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