Tackling Myanmar's Corruption Challenge

Saw, Khaing Sape (2015): Tackling Myanmar's Corruption Challenge. Published in: FOCUS ASIA No. No. 13 (16 April 2015): pp. 1-9.

Abstract

Corruption is widespread in Myanmar, and this has significant negative effects on the country’s economic development. In response, President U Thein Sein has made fighting corruption a priority. However, despite Myanmar’s gradual improvement in corruption perceptions’ rankings, it still ranks as one of the most corrupt ASEAN countries. Although progress in combating corruption has been made in some areas, there is much still to be done. This piece identifies the key corruption issues still facing Myanmar, and lays out recommendations to strengthen the efforts to tackle them. These include stricter oversight of bureaucrats’ discretionary powers and the removal of restrictive economic measures such as price controls in order to discourage black market activity. Finally, improving basic education about corruption can help raise awareness and serve to dislodge deeply embedded notions that corruption, gift giving etc. are just a normal part of getting things done in Myanmar.

• Item Type: MPRA Paper
• Language: English
• Keywords: Myanmar; Corruption; FDI; Business; Thein Sein
• Subjects: O - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth > O1 - Economic Development; O - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth > O2 - Development Planning and Policy; O - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth > O2 - Development Planning and Policy > O21 - Planning Models ; Planning Policy; Z - Other Special Topics > Z0 - General

References

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8 Editor’s note: Myanmar’s rank in TI’s CPI for 2014 is 156. See: http://www.transparency.org/whatwedo/ publication/cpi2014.

9 Defined by Transparency International as the “Everyday abuse of entrusted power by low- and mid-level public officials in their interactions with ordinary citizens.” Transparency International, 2009. “The anticorruption plain language guide,” p.33, http://www. transparency.org/whatwedo/publication/the_anti_ corruption_plain_language_guide.

10 Defined as the “Manipulation of policies, institutions and rules of procedure in the allocation of resources and financing by political decision makers, who abuse their position to sustain their power, status and wealth.” Ibid., p. 35.

11 Defined as “Any activity carried out to influence a government or institution’s policies and decisions in favor of a specific cause or outcome. Even when allowed by law, these acts can become distortive if disproportionate levels of influence exist — by companies, associations, organizations and individuals.” Ibid., p. 25.

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