CORRUPTION, CAPITAL ABUNDANCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: EVIDENCE FROM THE EUROPEAN UNION COUNTRIES

Authors

  • Vlatka Bilas Department of International Economics, Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Zagreb
  • Mile Bošnjak SKDD – CCP Smart Clear Ltd, Heinzl street 62 a, 10000 Zagreb
  • Sanja Franc Department of International Economics, Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Zagreb

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.7251/EMC1502211B

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to establish and clarify the relationship between corruption level and development among European Union countries. Out of the estimated model in this paper one can conclude that the level of corruption can explain capital abundance differences among European Union countries. Also, explanatory power of corruption is higher in explaining economic development than in explaining capital abundance, meaning stronger relationship between corruption level and economic development than between corruption level and capital abundance. There is no doubt that reducing corruption would be beneficial for all countries. Since corruption is a wrongdoing, the rule of law enforcement is of utmost importance. However, root causes of corruption, namely the institutional and social environment: recruiting civil servants on a merit basis, salaries in public sector competitive to the ones in private sector, the role of international institutions in the fight against corruption, and some other corruption characteristics are very important to analyze in order to find effective ways to fight corruption. Further research should go into this direction.

Author Biographies

Vlatka Bilas, Department of International Economics, Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Zagreb

Associate professor

Mile Bošnjak, SKDD – CCP Smart Clear Ltd, Heinzl street 62 a, 10000 Zagreb

Risk management and control Department

Sanja Franc, Department of International Economics, Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Zagreb

Senior assistant

Published

2016-01-27