Taking China’s anticorruption campaign seriously

Abstract

This article draws on a rich empirical literature on comparative corruption and rich theoretical literatures on the related topics of institutions and credible commitment to analyze China’s newest anticorruption campaign, ongoing today. It argues that the campaign differs notably from previous efforts. In addition to its most obvious features of longer duration and higher reach, the campaign has significantly changed the structure of Party and government incentives so as to reduce bureaucratic opportunities for corruption and structural obstacles to anticorruption enforcement. These features constitute important steps toward anticorruption institutionalisation and credible commitment to good governance. The article concludes by proposing some strategic policy choices to promote and protect anticorruption gains.

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