Models, metrics and insights

This Working Paper provides a theoretical and practical contribution to strengthening the evidence base for anti-corruption Collective Action – i.e. collaborative efforts by diverse actors from the private sector, civil society and public institutions to address integrity challenges that no single actor can resolve alone.

A new peer-reviewed journal article looks into how corruption undermines democracies, with a specific focus on a context of weak governance.

Corruption affects communities worldwide. It undermines civil, political and economic rights, erodes trust in institutions and impedes economic progress. A new Policy Brief by the FALCON (Fight Against Large-scale Corruption and Organised Crime Networks) project unveils new insights in the fight against high-level corruption.

Despite the increasing use of digital payment methods, cash is still king in many economies – including criminal economies. It remains the most-used payment option across Africa, the Middle East and Latin America, and accounted for over USD 7.6 trillion in consumer expenditures throughout 2022.

That’s a challenge when investigating financial crimes. How can you “follow the money” without records of bank transfers, debit or credit card payments, or digital wallet transactions?

The newsletter covers highlights at the Basel Institute in February 2025. It also features our latest news, blogs and other publications.

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The newsletter covers highlights at the Basel Institute from December 2024 to January 2025. It also features our latest news, blogs and other publications. We take this chance to welcome four new staff members to the team.

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Since its first use by the World Bank in 2008, the concept of "anti-corruption Collective Action" has evolved into a well-established best practice to prevent corruption and strengthen business integrity.

This paper captures the specific characteristics of anti-corruption Collective Action that have emerged over time and translates them into an easy-to-grasp typology that reflects both the variety and unifying principles that make up the Collective Action ecosystem. It aims to:

This document takes stock of recent progress (June 2024 to February 2025) in strengthening Ukraine’s anti-corruption ecosystem. It is published ahead of the Global Anti-Corruption and Integrity Forum, hosted by the OECD in Paris in March 2025.

Despite the turbulent geopolitical context and the drastic reduction of US government assistance, Ukraine has maintained a strong commitment to anti-corruption efforts. This report highlights key developments, including:

The changing landscape of anti-corruption regulation and enforcement has triggered important discussions around the role of ethics and compliance in business strategies and in the economy as a whole. It has also given impetus to the narrative that anti-corruption compliance programmes are inevitably costly, potentially ineffective and bureaucratic.

This research from the U4 Anti-Corruption Resource Centre highlights that integrating anti-corruption measures within sustainability reporting frameworks can enhance corporate transparency and contribute to reducing corruption risks. However, inconsistent global sustainability standards and enforcement challenges limit the effectiveness of these measures.

The research presents evidence and practice from the development cooperation sector to support practitioners in navigating governance and accountability frameworks in the private sector.