Perhaps the first written record of corruption comes from Egypt around 4,000 years ago. “The Eloquent Peasant” is an Ancient Egyptian story that tells the tale of Khun-Anup whose donkeys and goods are “confiscated” by Nemtynakht, a subordinate of the high steward.
Khun-Anup files a complaint. However, the mayor and the magistrates let Nemtynakht go free. Khun-Anup tells the mayor that the magistrates have been bribed and “Your [the mayor’s] portion—a jug of beer and three loaves—is in your house. The magistrates give and you take.”
The historical examples of corruption are unlimited, from the guards at the Great Wall being bribed to allow raiders inside to William “Boss” Tweed, head of the New York City Democratic Party. Tweed once bought 300 park benches for $5 each, then sold them to the city for $600 a piece. Tweed’s illicit profits were said to be in the range of $200 million and that was in 1860s money value.
Transparency International repeatedly ranks Bangladesh near the top of the world’s most corrupt nations. You pay the postman to get your mail; doctors take bribes to dispense medicine, and even electricity meter readers get their palms greased for keeping energy bills low.
Certain bribes paid abroad were technically tax deductible for German companies until 1999. They could simply categorize them as “useful expenditures,” if those expenses were not incurred in Germany and there were no foreign state officials involved. In the Philippines, companies note these expenses as “representation fees.”
Authorities estimate that more than $4 billion was embezzled in one of the world’s biggest corruption schemes from 1MDB, a Malaysian development fund, chaired by the former prime minister Najib Razak, who was sentenced to 70 years in prison. He is out on bail pending his appeal.
The World Bank Ease of Doing Business index has been published since 2003 and is carefully watched globally. After all, it is a study from the World Bank. Who would question its validity?
The World Bank announced last week that it would be discontinuing the Doing Business report. “Chinese officials in 2017 and 2018 were eager to see their ranking improve, and then World Bank President Jim Yong Kim and Kristalina Georgieva [the Bank’s CEO] held a series of meetings to discuss ways that the report’s methodology could be altered to improve China’s rankings, according to the investigative report by the law firm WilmerHale. The World Bank was in negotiations to receive a $13 billion capital increase. Beijing was eager to see its power increased as part of a deal for more funding.”
But there is no such thing as “Onli in da Pilipins.” The UK Good Law Project revealed the four companies awarded Covid-related contracts through the “VIP lane.” “P14 Medical, run by a Tory (the ruling party) councilor was awarded £276m in PPE contracts. Meller Designs, run by a large Tory donor was given more than £160m in PPE contracts. Luxe Lifestyle was awarded a £26m contract despite appearing to be insolvent and without any employees. Clandeboye Agencies, registered as a ‘wholesaler of sugar, chocolate and sugar confectionery’ was awarded £108m in PPE contracts.”
As the election season rolls around—and not only in the Philippines—candidates bring out their “I am not corrupt, but my opponent is” playbook.
For example: Jimmy Morales, a Guatemalan comedian, was elected president in 2016 on the slogan “Neither corrupt, nor a thief.” In January 2017, Morales’ brother and close adviser, and one of Morales’ sons were arrested on corruption and money laundering charges. Morales returned $60,000 in “not illegal” monthly bonuses from the Ministry of Defense.
“The vice of greed is a grievous sickness without cure,” said Ptah-Hotep, ancient Egyptian vizier during the late 25th century BC.