“Conspicuous Integrity” Can Change National Perceptions of Graft

Shirin Ahlhauser of the World Bank’s Office of Suspension and Debarment writes about how the perception of corruption in a country affects actual behavior, observing that "if you go to a country where you expect corruption, and someone solicits a bribe from you, you are more likely to give the bribe." She argues that the reverse is also true, and that countries can reduce the likelihood of corruption by changing perceptions about them.