Re: "Theorem" of Corruption

["Parth J. Shah" <pshah@CA-F1.umd.umich.edu>]

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Postings not related to the writing of the Manifesto or policy chapters
are likely to be summarily rejected. Thanks for your understanding. IPI
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Arvind Kumar wrote:

> ---prabhu.guptara@ny.ubs.com wrote:
> >
> > But you are right: I should include government
> control in some sense among my
> > points - though I have not yet found a succinct way
> of doing so in view of the
> > fact that some types of government control does not
> seem to add to corruption
> > (eg. in Singapore - at least so far!).
> >
>
> Maybe, the government should control only what it is
> supposed to? Politics is one thing people are not
> very much particular about entering even in singapore.
> If the government denies to the people what they want
> and what they they should rightly have, I am sure it
> will lead to corruption.
>
> Heritage Foundation lists Singapore as the second
> most free country when it comes to Economic Freedom.
>
> -Arvind
> __________

I agree with Arvind and would add that what i claimed was that no country we
know is corrupt which doesn't also have extensive government control of the
economy.  The converse is not always true--a centrally planned economy--the
most extensive form of govt control--could be corruption free, at least if the
"corruption" is defined in the traditional way.  Soviet Union or the present
China were/are not seen to be corrupt countries.

Singapore has strict laws about drug use and spitting in public places but
allows a great degree of economic freedom.

parth-

******************
Dr. Parth J. Shah                        From Jan-April 1999
President                                Department of Social Sciences
Centre for Civil Society                 University of Michigan
B-12 Kailash Colony                      Dearborn, MI 48128
New Delhi 110048                         Voice:  (313) 593-5147 (O)
India                                            (810) 731-3898 (H)
Voice:  (91-11) 646-8282                 Email: pjshah@umich.edu
Fax:    (91-11) 646-2453
Email:  pjshah@del2.vsnl.net.in
Webpage: www.siliconindia.com/civil/





--------------------------------------------------------------------------
This is the National Debate on System Reform.       debate@indiapolicy.org
Rules, Procedures, Archives:            ../debate/
-------------------------------------------------------------------------