What Is the Upside of Corruption? Research Paper Example

Introduction to the Topic

In the modern era, individuals and organizations participate in many different types of activities that influence decision-making. This practice may lead to activities that are not necessarily in the best interests of the parties involved, nor the creation of an environment that projects legally appropriate and positive values. Therefore, there may be a risk associated with making decisions that are in an individual’s self-interest and not in the interest of the organization or the groups with whom the individual is involved. This is a challenging phenomenon that requires further evaluation because when these actions are performed in one’s own self-interest, they overshadow the interest of the group or organization and may take precedence in decision-making in many ways. Therefore, it is important to address when these actions take a wrong turn into an area that is unwelcome and inappropriate for an individual to take, given the circumstances that are present.

Corruption is generally viewed in a negative light because of its connotation as a selfish and highly individualistic set of decisions, rather than a concept that has widespread acceptance and support from an organization and its entire demographic. Corruption must be addressed in a negative context because that is the general perception of these actions; however, as with many situations, there are lessons learned that have a significant impact on an organization and its people in different ways, as well as the strategy that is conducted and the decisions that are made. It is from these experiences that an individual making a corrupt decision or a group of individuals learn lessons that will have a lasting impact and potential consequences to be paid. The following discussion will address corruption in greater detail and will emphasize the significance of corruption and the learning curve that is likely to occur after these actions have taken place, as well as the factors that are represented by an organization and its people in different ways that have a lasting impact on one’s life over the long term, based on the decisions that have been made.

The Negative Context of Corruption

Corruption is generally viewed in a negative context for many important reasons, as it represents a negative approach that ignores the status quo and what is deemed appropriate from a societal perspective. These factors represent a means of understanding why individuals make corrupt decisions and the lasting impact that these decisions have on their lives in different ways. Corruption assumes many definitions and interpretations by society, and these represent a means of understanding the context of actions and decisions that are not only inappropriate, but that also indicate a lack of support and oversight regarding these decisions and the level of authority that is observed. An interpretation of the term as defined by Soreide is as follows “Corruption is motivated by the possibility of securing something of value for oneself and one’s allies. The desire to secure benefits is a human trait and generally positive for development; various forms of rewards drive humans to get up in the morning, do a good job, and act responsibly. The discussion now turns to the opportunity to secure more benefits than are entitled to within the existing rules of the game; specifically, the opportunity to grab at the expense of society.” This evaluation of corruption provides a general perception of the term that supports a greater understanding of why individuals seek to act in their own self-interest rather than in the best interest of society as a whole, and this represents a means of understanding the perception of self-sacrifice that may be correlated to corruption in some contexts (Soreide). Therefore, the practice of engaging in behaviors that are in one’s own self-interest is not a new concept by any means; however, when it has a significant impact on many other people in society and it influences their benefits and decisions, then problems are likely to occur that are difficult to overcome (Soreide).

With the scope of corruption transpiring throughout all areas of society, including and perhaps most significantly in political circles, it is not surprising that individuals are unwilling to accept these actions as appropriate and as part of the status quo (Galang 429). From this perspective, it is inevitable that government organizations and leaders often take advantage of their power and authority in order to serve their own interests; however, this practice discourages the development of positive approaches to accomplishing tasks and in working on behalf of those in need (Galang 430). In particular, corruption plays a significant role in the negation of economic development in many ways, thereby creating an environment in which there are significant opportunities for growth, while also considering methods that will have a lasting impact on motivation and performance (Galang 431). Many members of the political arena play a significant role in corruption through their actions; however, they also represent specific characteristics that are difficult to accept and to acknowledge as appropriate, given the different aspects of growth that are often limited by corrupt activities in the political spectrum and beyond (Galang 431). Unfortunately, the political systems of many countries are as such that corruption is viewed as a daily occurrence with little hope for overcoming these conditions without significant attention and focus on growth and change (Galang 431). These practices represent an opportunity to examine the specific elements of corruption and how those in the political arena might educate others and provide them with the resources that are required to perhaps act differently and to make different decisions with potentially positive outcomes (Galang 431).

The Economic Impact of Corruption

Corruption throughout society and in organizations has a significant economic impact in many circles, thereby creating a difficult environment in which there are significant limitations to growth and opportunity (Jensen & Rahman). In this context, it is likely that economic corruption is unlimited in scope based on one’s imagination and creativity; however, this also demonstrates that firms are often unwilling to cooperate in situations that involve corruption because they are unwilling to admit that they have played a role in these practices (Jensen & Rahman). This is a critical complication of corruption that is difficult to ignore and must be part of a larger discussion of the topic and how it impacts society as a whole (Jensen & Rahman).

In some ways, corruption serves as a breeding ground for potential growth in some areas, thereby creating an environment in which there are significant opportunities to examine and support new directions in policymaking that will have numerous benefits for organizations (Heckelman & Powell 351). In this context, organizations may learn significant lessons from the decisions that others have made before them, and these represent an opportunity to explore new insights regarding corruption that will have a positive and lasting impact on outcomes (Heckelman & Powell 351). In this context, corrupt and irresponsible policies and decisions may motivate those with an honest point of view to make alternative decisions that will demonstrate a more effective approach to managing outcomes and improving policy-based agendas within organizations in order to drive greater success and achievement that is grounded in ethical responsibility and appropriateness (Heckelman & Powell 351). These factors demonstrate that organizations must not take all past experiences as the norm and may benefit from decisions that will signify their willingness to change the system or a specific trend and to be proactive in forming a positive response that is not grounded in corrupt activities (Heckelman & Powell 351).

Corruption throughout society continues to evolve and to create many situations that are almost impossible to ignore on the larger landscape. Most importantly, “corruption is a kind of behavior which deviates from the norm actually prevalent or believed to prevail in a given context, such as the political. It is deviant behavior associated with a particular motivation, namely that of private gain at public expense….the pattern of corruption may therefore be said to exist whenever a power holder who is charged with doing certain things…is by monetary or other rewards, such as the expectation of a job in the future, induced to take actions which favor whoever provides the reward and thereby damage the group or organization to which the functionary belongs, more specifically the government” (Heidenheimer & Johnston 15). In this context, corruption requires further examination and the development of a framework that supports the understanding of the tools and resources required to engage in negative behaviors, along with other considerations that will have a lasting impact on outcomes (Heidenheimer & Johnston 15). This perspective supports the belief that corruption may begin as a negative response to a given event, but that it may spin out of control quickly and grow into a much larger battle that is difficult to overcome within the body of society and the organizations which are prevalent (Heidenheimer & Johnston 15).

The concept of grabbing has significant influence on corruption, whereby “someone seizes something that he or she is not entitled to, or takes more than what is his or hers formally, informally or tactily allocated share” (Soreide & Williams 1). In this context, grabbing is perhaps the key motivator in corruption activities, as it represents an individual’s desire to take what is rightfully not his or hers and to use that product for personal self-interest (Soreide & Williams 1). In this context, it is inevitable that individuals may demonstrate cunning and inappropriate behavior that has a lasting impact on activities and operations within a given context, thereby creating an environment in which their behavior is the primary driver without any recognition of consequences (Soreide & Williams 2). These practices represent a difficult set of challenges for individuals and organizations whom they represent, particularly when they are unable to fully recognize the extent of their actions and the scope and breadth of the decisions that they make on behalf of an organization (Soreide & Williams 2). This lack of control and negative set of behaviors may play a role in how an individual addresses his or her role within an organization and how this might contribute to change when the corrupt actions are revealed, which is an inevitable consequence of these behavioral patterns (Soreide & Williams 2).

Organizational Corruption

Organizations who participate in activities that are grounded in corruption require further analysis, as they are difficult to accept and to overcome in the context of the strategy that is in place. It is also important to note that organizations must continue to examine their own motivations for performing specific acts and in determining how outsiders and insiders might overcome these activities through decisions to expose corruption at the source (Goel & Nelson 4). Therefore, the concept of whistleblowing to identify and expose corruption is an important step in overcoming the negative and managing the positive more effectively (Goel & Nelson 4). These practices identify possible sources of corruption and enable individuals who share this information with interested parties to be protected by specific laws, particularly in the United States where these activities are common (Goel & Nelson 4). This practice also demonstrates the importance of developing a strategy that will be effective in protecting those who share this information so that they are not at risk in any way, because this may be detrimental to their own objectives if the proper protections are not in place when these types of activities are exposed (Goel & Nelson 4).

In some ways, corruption has an entirely social focus and presence, whereby “The willingness to be corrupt is influenced by the perceived activities of peers and other individuals. Thus, a person’s willingness to be corrupt depends on the pro-social behavior of other citizens. The more that others are perceived to be corrupt, the higher the willingness to be corrupt” (Dong, Dulleck, & Torgler 2). In this context, it is observed that those who participate in corrupt behaviors and activities may be driven by those within their circle, perhaps due to envy, jealousy, or the desire to be better than others without consideration of the consequences (Dong et.al 2). Therefore, these activities require a high level understanding of the psychological motivation behind corruption and why it is often deeply rooted in a need to be respected and supported by others from a societal point of view (Dong et.al 2). In many cases, these perceptions in and of themselves are difficult to sustain, and they contribute to any number of negative outcomes that are difficult to overcome and that may ultimately lead to an individual’s downfall (Doug et.al 2).

Corruption contributes to an already negative perception of many organizations throughout society, perceptions that are difficult to overcome and that lead to significant challenges. The Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) represents an evaluation of different countries throughout the world and their perceptions of corruption within the public sector (Srisanit 166). Higher scores represent a higher level of transparency within a given country; for example, China’s CPI is 3.6, the United States is 7.5, Japan is 7.7, and Singapore is at the top with a score of 9.2 (Srisanit 166). In this context, it is perceived that countries with higher scores do not necessarily have higher levels of corruption, but that they are aware of the risks associated with corruption and how it impacts their countries (Srisanit 166). As a result, a country such as the United States strongly recognizes the existence of corruption within its borders, but that it may be difficult on many levels to fully interpret and expand the options that are available to positively impact outcomes related to corruption and to reduce actions related to corruption (Srisanit 166). These circumstances represent a challenge for a country and its overall reputation regarding corruption, as these conditions require new approaches to overcome corrupt acts and to increase transparency at the government and business practice levels (Srisanit 166).

One area of corruption that is worthy of mention is bribery and its impact on society. To be specific, “Many development economists fear that corruption not only reduces efficiency, but also equity, constituting a regressive tax, causing the poor to be excluded from public services, and skewing growth in favor of the rich. Yet there is little empirical evidence on the burden of corruption by income or on the links between income and corrupt behavior by individuals more generally” (Hunt & Laszlo 1). From this perspective, it is not surprising that corrupt behaviors, including bribery, require an evaluation from a different point of view that has a significant impact on outcomes within organizations and throughout society (Hunt & Laszlo 1). Therefore, the economic impact of bribery, although complex on many levels, requires further evaluation in order to determine if it has lasting and significant consequences for individuals and for organizations as a whole (Hunt & Laszlo 1).

It is inevitable that as organizations grow and thrive, their members may find ways to improve their own visibility and strength, which may lead to corrupt activities or other circumstances that may have a lasting impact on their overall decision-making capabilities and other factors. Furthermore, corruption is not exclusive to corporate entities or government bodies, as many other individuals find themselves in positions of power and authority in which they might take advantage of the circumstances that are available. To be specific, “Problems of “corruption” pose unique challenges in many areas of concern to bioethics, including the research, development, and marketing of drugs, the delivery of foreign and disaster aid, and the allocation and quality of medical care” (Miller & English 1). In this context, it is important to develop new ideas and approaches to better manage the outcomes of corruption within a variety of areas, including environments where the health and wellbeing of human beings are at stake (Miller & English 1). These factors represent an opportunity to examine the different constructs of individual decision-making and the capabilities that are required to understand how corruption may transform a positive event into a negative one without much difficulty or effort (Miller & English 1). These factors represent a challenge to human beings and to the overall direction and scope of organizational development and decision-making in many capacities (Miller & English 1). Therefore, it is important to identify specific factors that will have a lasting impact on organizations and individuals and to focus on the lessons that may be learned in this context, using prior corrupt actions as a guide in improving circumstances for others in the future (Miller & English 1).

Similarly, organizations within educational systems may also experience their own elements of corruption that must be well-defined and addressed, given the need to provide students with a well-rounded set of experiences to improve their own lives (McCluskey). When these efforts are not taken seriously and the self-interest of one or more individuals is the key priority, there is a significant group of challenges to consider when the vulnerability of students is at stake (McCluskey). Therefore, it is important to identify some of the issues that lead to corruption within the educational system and how to best overcome these concerns through lessons learned from corrupt decision-making activities (McCluskey). It is known that “for the principals, superintendents, and others purportedly in charge of schools, bureaucracy has made it nearly impossible to make failed systems work. Public accountability has not only failed to defend against corruption, it has also rendered many districts, especially those most in need of reform, impervious to change” (McCluskey). As a result, it is necessary to better understand the nature of these conditions and how they frame decision-making and other challenges that impact individuals, including students, who are vulnerable to the decisions that are made regarding their education within the school environment (McCluskey). When these efforts are considered, it may be possible to overcome corrupt actions within schools and to promote reform that will have a lasting impact on student growth and development (McCluskey).

Although corruption is not generally considered to be an action that inspires beneficial outcomes, there are visible and appropriate methods of managing corruption so that individuals reap the benefits of lessons learned from these activities. In many ways, corruption is associated with morally indefensible actions that transpire within an individual’s decision-making authority and reflect the importance of learning from these experiences and making the best of a negative situation (Rose-Ackerman 1). These factors require a high level of support and acknowledgement by members of society regarding the extent of the corrupt acts that have taken place, as well as a means of developing new strategies and to make these lessons invaluable for others to follow, both now and in the future (Rose-Ackerman 1). Although corruption has many moral consequences for human beings, it may also contribute to negative financial and economic concerns and other factors that also have a lasting impact on outcomes; therefore, this requires a high level understanding of the different elements which capture the attention of others and spark the motivation that is required to learn lessons and to take these actions seriously in accordance with the desired principles of growth and development within the human condition (Rose-Ackerman 1).

Finally, corruption is evident throughout society in many different forms and requires a detailed analysis of the principles that have a lasting impact on individuals. For example, it is important to identify the resources and challenges associated with corruption that may positively impact outcomes, such as the devastation to individuals, organizations, and even families from a societal point of view (Osei-Afoakwa 623). In this context, it is important to identify the specific challenges that result from corrupt actions and how to best approach these conditions in order to achieve positive outcomes (Osei-Afoakwa 623). This context supports the improvement of policies and procedures that in the past have led to significant negative consequences and transforms them into powerful elements of change that will have positive impacts on society as a whole (Osei-Afoakwa 623).

Similarly, it is possible to transform the lessons that are learned through corruption and highly public events such as scandals that infiltrate society in many different ways and to take these lessons seriously for the betterment of organizations and society (Fernández-Vázquez et.al). These factors require an understanding of the different elements that contribute to the corruptive state and how to best address these conditions and adapt positive characteristics for the future (Fernández-Vázquez et.al). It is inevitable that organizations will undergo periods where corruption might be observed and where it might overshadow any positive actions or other issues that have taken place; therefore, these circumstances require an examination of the different areas where corruption that contributes to scandals might be overcome through positive decision-making and other factors that will support a long-term strategy to learn from the actions that are associated with corruption and scandalous circumstances to improve the betterment of society and the people who face the brunt of these conditions as they emerge (Fernández-Vázquez et.al).

Conclusion

Corruption is a highly challenging phenomenon that occurs throughout all areas of society and provides a framework under which behaviors are deemed suspect and are often inappropriate for an individual to take, particularly when they are in their own self-interest and not in the interest of the organization or group whom the individual represents. This is a challenging yet realistic practice that occurs throughout all areas of society, from business practices to education to politics to healthcare and many other areas in between. Therefore, it is necessary to determine why corrupt decisions are made to begin with, including the motivation behind these types of decisions and how to best address the outcomes that are likely to occur as a result of the corrupt decisions or actions. These factors play a significant role in how the general public perceives corruption in society and why it assumes a negative connotation and inappropriate utilization of knowledge and resources.

In spite of the challenges associated with corruption, it is of critical importance that these factors represent a means of developing new strategies for growth and change that will enable acts of corruption to serve as lessons learned, rather than to be viewed in a different context. Acts involving corruption require an effective understanding of the different elements that contribute to these decisions, and may serve as a basis for improved decision-making in the future. In this context, individuals and organizations might consider taking the lessons that they have learned from acts related to corruption, to make sense of these circumstances, and to learn from these experiences and adapt to them to improve future conditions. It is believed that these conditions will provide a basis for examining other opportunities for growth and change that will have a positive impact on individuals and organizations, using corrupt actions as a guide in shaping the present and the future of society and how these behaviors might improve society by using the lessons that have been learned.

Works Cited

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Fernández-Vázquez, Pablo, Pablo Barberá, and Gonzalo Rivero. “Rooting Out Corruption or Rooting For Corruption? The Heterogeneous Electoral Consequences of Scandals.” (2013).

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McCluskey, Neal. “Corruption in the public schools: the market is the answer.” (2012).

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