WASHINGTON—In recent years, a consensus has arisen that endemic corruption is not only immoral in itself, but can undermine most everything that governments do to provide for the security and welfare of its citizens. A global consensus is emerging: corruption shouldn’t be tolerated anymore, and international cooperation is vital to getting rid of it.
The importance of eliminating corruption is today recognized by virtually all countries, whereas in the past, in many countries it could scarcely be mentioned. The United States and the European Union members are assisting countries in many ways to expose and prosecute corruption, making it riskier for individuals to do.
On Dec. 10, the U.S. Institute of Peace invited Assistant Secretary of State William Brownfield and other experts to discuss what is being done to combat corruption. The panel occurred on the day following the date the United Nations designated as World Anti-Corruption Day.
“There is no more corrosive effect to democracy and prosperity throughout the human race than corruption,” began Ambassador Brownfield. “It kills investment, it lowers economic growth, increases the cost to the economy and to the government everywhere it exists.”
Ambassador Brownfield mentioned the often cited amount of $2 trillion, which the World Bank estimated for the annual world costs of corruption— “larger than all but the two largest economies in the world,” he added.
