Corruption? Really?

[A121]

Everybody blames corruption on why the Philippines is poor but according to this paper there are other factors. I've read only up to page 14 out of the 51 pages. Let's share what we think of this paper.

Abstract:

By comparing Korea’s relative level of corruption with that of Taiwan and the Philippines and examining how political economy of corruption has developed over time within Korea, this paper provides a test of existing theories on causes of corruption. I find that inequality of income and wealth best explains the relative level of corruption among these countries and across time within Korea, consistent with You and Khagram (2005). Although developmental state and crony capitalism literature emphasized the “autonomous and uncorrupt bureaucracy” and “rampant cronyism and corruption” in Korea, respectively, I find that Korea has been neither as corrupt as the Philippines and nor as clean as Taiwan. Successful land reform in Korea and Taiwan brought about low levels of inequality and corruption, while failure of land reform in the Philippines led to a high level of inequality and corruption. However, wealth concentration due to chaebol industrialization increased corruption in Korea, in comparison with Taiwan.

here's the link

http://www.allacademic.com/meta/p_ml...381_index.html

[uls]

the leaders of Taiwan and SK had vision of what they wanted their countries to become

they set goals, made plans, and worked towards the goals

and while doing their jobs, their leaders also accepted kickbacks from govt contractors

the difference here is our leaders have no vision, no goals, no plans for the Philippines

the only vision, goals, plans they have are only for themselves

they see themselves becoming president or senator or congressman, they set their goals, they make plans for the next election

pag nanalo sila, na-achieve na ang goal nila... nag materialize na ang vision nila para sa sarili nila

all they do after winning is simply enjoy the perks that come with power

and steal

so they will have funds for the next election

coz their next goal is to win the next election again

that's it

[tidus1203]

That's why so many people run for president here. Sa ibang bansa at most 3-5 lang kasi they have a sense of duty and they know winning comes responsibility and not just all perks.

[Lucius]

That's why so many people run for president here. Sa ibang bansa at most 3-5 lang kasi they have a sense of duty and they know winning comes responsibility and not just all perks.

Oo nga e. And any position = unlimited access to funds

[uls]

That's why so many people run for president here. Sa ibang bansa at most 3-5 lang kasi they have a sense of duty and they know winning comes responsibility and not just all perks.

and marunong sila mag set aside ng self interest nila for the greater good

i mean for the greater good of their political party

pag meron sila presidential ambition, and di sila na-nominate ng party nila, tanggap nila ang decision ng party, and they support nalang the party's nominee

dito, pag hindi na-nominate ng political party, gagawa ng sariling party at tatakbo parin for president

SK, Taiwan leaders, kahit tumatanggap ng kickbacks from govt contractors, still had the decency to perform their duty... to work towards the vision and goals set for their country

in short, even if they are corrupt, they still had the decency not to allow their countries to go to the dogs

[A121]

nice observation sirs.

and still I wonder why only a few people have bothered to read this article or even commented on it.

[4wrider]

Government in both Taiwan and Korea were greatly influenced by Japan and acted as strong counterbalance to the corrupt leaderships. Here, the American political model which we are still using has not led to strong and competent bureaucracy. The salary standardization law of the Cory government, though with good intent, prevented the government from recruiting the best and brightest further weakening the bureaucracy. Also, the President's power to fire and hire over 10,000 top government officials make them all curry to her or his favor.

Series of failed policies have almost doomed our country. But, at least we are not as poor and miserable as Zimbabwe now, which was the richest country in Africa (as the white ruled Rhodesia) just three decades ago. And, I think, with one good and honest president (hopefully by 2010) we can hold our heads up high again.

[4wrider]

The keys are good leaders with good policies. Even the best intentions of beloved Cory was not enough and of course, even, with some good policies of Gloria we continue to wallow in poverty.

[A121]

^^ True that but I guess in Taiwan, they had China to worry about.

Also, most developed countries would start with the greatest catalyst for change that would be something called as land reform.

[actor21]

actually sa Malaysia, at other asian countries e mga corrupt din sila pero within the country din nagagamit ang pera..sa ating bansa dinadala sa ibang bansa ang pera..swiss banks..

kaya imbes na pakinabangan ng mga kababayan natin ang kinurakot na..mas lalong nawala..at ibang bayan na ang makikinabang..

[redorange]

actor21 is correct the corruption in Malaysia and Indonesia may even be worst than the Philippines. I have friends who are Malaysian and Indonesian/Americans, when I told them of how in the Philippines the Customs officer asked me for a bribe and when I asked to see his supervisor he let me go. They said if I did that in Malaysia or Indonesia I would end up having to bribe the supervisor and the officer in the end. Kinda made me laugh and be thankful that the Philippines isn't quite that bad. Actually the bribe being asked happens less now than what I recall from my travels to Manila when I was younger only that one incident in the past 10 years of multiple trips.

[v6dreamer]

Dirty politician's are contributing to the ruining of Philippine government. So are campaign contributions from major companies and conglomerates. Politicians are more worried about making sure a certain legislation gets passed because the company that wrote them a fat check last election would really like it and thats where the money is, citizens need a change! The people of this country need to take back their government. I say, start from the ground up. The citizens should represent themselves. It's a responsibility of all Pilipino citizens to express their views to their representatives. And if they don't respect them, it is their responsibility to not vote them into office again. Enought is enought.

[A121]

Dirty politician's are contributing to the ruining of Philippine government. So are campaign contributions from major companies and conglomerates. Politicians are more worried about making sure a certain legislation gets passed because the company that wrote them a fat check last election would really like it and thats where the money is, citizens need a change! The people of this country need to take back their government. I say, start from the ground up. The citizens should represent themselves. It's a responsibility of all Pilipino citizens to express their views to their representatives. And if they don't respect them, it is their responsibility to not vote them into office again. Enought is enought.

please read the link that I have posted above.

[4wrider]

What the paper did not mention is how is it that Philippines have so much bigger gap between the rich and poor than the other countries.

The Philippines is so blessed with natural resources just like many poor Latin and African countries that just like them these resources were magnet for big multinationals who partnered with local elite whom they use to corrupt the whole system and exploit the resources both human and natural.

On the other hand, almost everybody in Korea and Taiwan were poor to begin with. The older Koreans with the country's harsh winter needed to work hard and save however they can. A trait they developed that bode well upto now

Taiwan was mostly aboriginal (they look and behave so much like our Igorots) when the Chang Kai-shek's fleeing Koumintang took over the island. Since almost all of them have no land in Taiwan but with a lot of treasures taken from the mainland, they forced a sweeping land reform that and paid the previous landowners with outright cash. These displace landowners faced with just a little land but with a lot of money started their small businesses whcih many grew to be the conglomerates that fuel the island economy nowadays.

Here, the piecemeal land reforms were made sure to fail by the rich landowning politicians. And the farmers-beneficiaries who have developed a fatalistic attitude due to the unpredictable typhoons (kahit anong trabaho at investment mo kung binagyo ka mas malala pa kalagayan mo sa kapitbahay mong walang ginawa) would most of the times buy jeeps, tv and party as soon as they were able to sell their homestead. And soon their sons, bearing the same attitude, will have to drive jeepneys and buses we all love to hate.

And because of this resentment between those who have and those who have cars, couple with robin hood type promising politicians (Erap is just the most open) the gap continue to grow.

[A121]

What the paper did not mention is how is it that Philippines have so much bigger gap between the rich and poor than the other countries.

I think the reason for that large gap is caused by the lack of land reform as stated in the paper.