Anticorruption in transition : a contribution to the policy debate

TLDR

In Central and Eastern Europe, the Baltics, and the CIS, the transition to market economies and new institutions has created fertile ground for corruption, prompting governments to prioritize anti‑corruption and seek World Bank assistance. The report aims to dissect corruption practices, compare patterns across transition countries, and contribute to policy dialogue by drawing lessons for tailoring anti‑corruption strategies. The authors synthesize diverse sources, ongoing research, and Bank experience to extract lessons for tailoring anti‑corruption strategies, while explicitly avoiding a review of the Bank's operations or prescribing operational guidelines.

Abstract

In the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, the Baltics, and the Commonwealth of Independent States, the simultaneous process of developing a market economy, designing new political and social institutions, and redistributing social assets have created fertile ground for corruption. Many governments throughout the region have made combating corruption a priority and have turned to the World Bank for assistance in designing feasible anti-corruption strategies. This report seeks to unbundle the varies practices of corruption to identify and compare different patterns of the problem across transition countries. It then draws out lessons for tailoring anti-corruption strategies to address the variation across the region in an effort to target reforms more effectively. The report draws on a multitude of sources and ongoing research and lessons of experience, including the Bank's work in this area. However the report does not seek to review the Bank's operations or set specific strategic guidelines for its operational work in this area. It is intended as a contribution to the growing policy dialogue on developing practical strategies for reducing corruption.