Corrupt Exchanges: Actors, Resources, and Mechanisms of Political Corruption

This is the best review of government corruption that I've read. It is at times overly academic, but the scope and detail are excellent. No simple solutions are offered. In fact, there are few suggestions of any kind. The authors try to evaluate the Italian corruption prosecutions of the 90s and leave it at that. There is a wide range of governmental graft described, but most involves government construction contracts and job placements. In the last quarter of the book, mafia violence is considered. The book doesn't assume any 'political' agenda. Communist, socialist and free-marketeer seem equally interested in taking bribes in return for the government favors they might happen to control. Mechanics of specific transactions are described in detail, and little effort is made to look into the motivations. In their conclusion, the authors make the point that the Italian corruption trials of the 90s made little difference in the way government operated. The authors suggest Italian corruption reflects a lack of collaboration among Italian entrepreneurs. If the entrepreneurs had higher levels of cooperation, they could police their own members and stop efforts for individual gain through bribery and the threat of violence.

This is the best study i have ever read on corruption. As the authors systematicly examine the corruption in Italy, they provide very useful insights for the causes and consequences of corruption in general.(Social, political and economic). It is full of striking empirical examples and stories from the Italian businesses and govermental agencies. this book is both for the academist and normal reader. if you are working on a project on corruption, or just want to learn more about the resons of heavy corruption in developing and underdeveloped countries, this book is a must.