TLC501: Analyzing Corruption as a Global Issue & Development

This research essay examines corruption as a global issue, referencing theories and reports to illustrate its widespread impact. It discusses corruption's role in undermining democratic institutions, deteriorating economies, and threatening national security. The essay highlights the global efforts to combat corruption through organizations like Transparency International. It also explores specific instances of corruption in education and medicine, and the role of developed countries in perpetuating corruption abroad. The essay concludes by emphasizing the need for collective action to fight corruption and promote economic development, both nationally and globally, and highlights the adverse effects of corruption on vulnerable populations.

Corruption as a global issue
[Name]
[Institution]

Comment C1 (Introduction doesn’t have a background that addresses corruption as
global issue and answering the question so what?)
Under this comment, I addressed corruption as a global issue through researching cases
and agencies on corruption worldwide.
Background
Corruption is the act of dishonesty by individuals in power, intending to benefit from
the action. Several theories have been developed to explain corruption as a global issue.
Examples of these theories include functionalist and ration choice theories of corruption.
According to international transparency report (2010), “corruption is a worldwide issue that
is threatening the functioning of democratic institutions, deteriorating the country’s economy
and acting as a threat to national security and stability of the government.” There have been
cases worldwide where prime ministers are being investigated, government officials support
cartels, the presidents are dismissed from office, illegal businesses are conducted, political
parties are breaking apart, and organized crimes are increasing, among other scenarios. To
fight corruption, global bodies have been formed through the integration of different
countries in the world to address issues on corruption. For example, Transparency
International (TI) an agency formed to oversees in matters of corruption all over the world.
Corruption has become a cause of poverty and as a result of poverty at the same time. This is
generally because the resources and finances remain in a few hands and not the general
society. According to Nehme & Juriansz (2016), “For multinationals, bribery enables
companies to gain contracts (particularly for public works and military equipment) or
concessions which they would not otherwise have won, or to do so on more favourable
terms.” Rose-Ackerman & Palifka (2016) also argues that “every year, western businesses
pay huge amounts of money in bribes to win friends, influence, and contracts. These bribes

are conservatively estimated to run to US$80 billion a year—roughly the amount that the UN
believes is needed to eradicate global poverty.” In Australia, corruption cases have
significantly reduced in the recent past, but there are still cases of corruption at the border.
The levels of corruption vary in different countries and social classes. In this case, the poor
and vulnerable in society are the ones that suffer as a result of corruption. The corrupt leaders
embezzle development funds, leaving the country underdeveloped. Therefore, when
government offices and leaders are corrupt, the vulnerable suffer (Lambsdorff, 2017). For
example, the elderly, children, women, the disabled, and the poor are at risk of suffering.
Unless a long lasting solution is formulated, corruption will continue to be an issue not only
nationally but also globally.
Comment C2 (topic sentences, one body paragraph and correct citation)
I responded by using the correct format in paragraphing, for example, using a topic
sentence and concluding the sentence. I addressed the highlights in the paragraphs
corruption in education and corruption in medication.
Corruption is a global issue in the field of education. Corruption in the education
sector includes misuse of school funds, discrimination when appointing staff, favoritism by
the school governing body in procurement processes, and in the national senior certificate
results. Corruption in the education sector has compromised with academic performance
globally.
Corruption also takes part in the provision of medicine. According to the world
health organization, "an essential medicine saves lives and improves health when they are
available, affordable and are of assured quality and are correctly used.” Even though
pharmaceuticals are of immense importance in health sectors, poor drug access remains to be
a global health problem” (Kennedy & Kennedy, 2018). The presence of corruption in the

pharmaceutical system from manufacturer to the retailers may limit people from accessing
quality medication.

Conclusion
In conclusion, although corruption is associated with third world countries, fraud is
also practiced by developed countries. Graycar (2015) in the article; Policy and Society,
"Rich countries and their agencies ...commonly have been and are accomplices in corruption
abroad, encouraged it by their action rather than impeding it...” Corruption is caused by many
factors, among them poor policies and laws, dictatorship in power, and also some practice
corruption because it's seen as a culture. Corruption has different effects and impact on
human life in several ways. It undermines implementation of the laws, developed mistrust,
hinders development, and deteriorates government's service delivery. The government and
society should join hands in fighting corruption for economic development both nationally
and globally.

Comment C3 (inconsistency in using references and citation)
Under this comment, I researched on the American Psychiatric Association (APA)
referencing style. The format follows name date format with a dent. The citation should be
in name-date form.
References
Index, C. P. (2010). Transparency international. URL: http://www. transparency.
org/news/feature/cpi_2013_now_is_the_time_for_action.
Kennedy, J., & Kennedy, M. (2018). The Other Side of Euthanasia: A Practice Perspective
from Australia. In Applied Ethics in the Fractured State (pp. 55-66). Emerald
Publishing Limited.
Nehme, M., & Juriansz, J. (2016). Corruption, International Business Transactions and the
OECD. In Transnational Governance (pp. 121-160). Routledge.
Rose-Ackerman, S., & Palifka, B. J. (2016). Corruption and government: Causes,
consequences, and reform. Cambridge university press.
Lambsdorff, J. (2017). Invisible Feet and Grabbing Hands: The Political Economy of
Corruption and Welfare. In The Economics of Transparency in Politics (pp. 123-150).
Routledge.
Graycar, A. (2015). Corruption: Classification and analysis. Policy and Society, 34(2), 87-96.