Can corruption be curbed in developing countries? What lessons can other countries learn from
China and
India’s experiences? Observing the public trust generated by the
anti-graft drives of President
Xi Jinping and Prime Minister
Narendra Modi, combating corruption has become a signature “clean government” drive across the developing world.
A large
number of senior public officials have been investigated in China as a result of the campaign to root out corrupt “tigers” and a huge amount of corrupt money has returned to the banking system under
Modi’s demonetisation in India. Though the Chinese campaign has been more striking and visible around the world, Modi’s “Robin Hood” style of tackling corruption should be accorded attention as it combines redistributive politics with anti-corruption efforts.
Xi and Modi met
recently in Wuhan to strengthen ties and, hopefully, end long-term distrust and
disputes. Better relations between India and China can only be positive for the two largest developing economies. Corruption has been the most prominent internal challenge facing the two countries for decades.
If they can learn from each other’s experiences, it would provide valuable lessons for anti-corruption efforts around the world. As redistributive politics gain importance in China, with the substantial widening of the wealth gap, in future, the Chinese leadership should consider an anti-corruption drive that reduces these disparities and improves the purchasing power of the poor.
China and India’s anti-corruption efforts have aroused the interest of domestic and international observers, who seek to learn from the relative successes and failures. China’s campaign to target both “
tigers and flies” and India’s demonetisation have been impressive and have resonated throughout the developing world. Considering the size and populations of the two countries, deep-rooted corruption is not easy to take on.
Policy changes and reform face vast amounts of red tape and resentment from opposition groups in India, while hurdles in China include bureaucracy and disagreement at every level of government. China is constrained by its authoritarian nature, meaning there is no downward accountability. In India, it is party politics, with party heavyweights left checked and Modi’s anti-corruption policy supported by regional governments run by the ruling party and sabotaged by states not under its control.
