The Atlantic

Honest Politicians Won't Fix Corruption

Around the world, people are fed up with venal politicians. But they may be looking for the wrong solution.
Source: Paulo Whitaker / Reuters

The good news is that much of the world is fed up with corruption. The bad news is that the way many are fighting corruption is ineffective. Too often, the remedy centers on finding and empowering an honest leader who promises to stamp out the problem. Worldwide, candidates for elected offices are running on highly personalized anti-corruption platforms, offering themselves as the solution. What countries really need, though, are smart laws that reduce the incentives and opportunities for

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