In many countries with high levels of corruption, there is also a strong demand for government to do something about it. With the right conditions, that can fuel solid political commitments. We’ve seen, however, that even in cases where governments do all the right things on paper – strengthen legal frameworks, establish dedicated anti-corruption agencies, etc. – there's a gap between what they promise and what happens in practice.
This article by Claudia Baez Camargo offers valuable insights into how behavioural science can inform more effective anti-corruption strategies and crime prevention efforts. By shedding light on key behavioural drivers and practical approaches, the piece provides a strong foundation for those seeking to better understand how human behaviour can be positively influenced to promote integrity and reduce crime.
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.
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:
News
Come study with us!
We are thrilled to launch Basel STUDY, deepening our mission to empower professionals and practitioners working to counter corruption and financial crime. In conjunction with the University of Basel, the Basel Institute now offers advanced postgraduate qualifications in anti-corruption and asset recovery.
Publication
Quick Guide 36: Corruption and security
How does corruption threaten national and international security, both directly and indirectly? Can viewing it through the lens of power offer deeper insights? And what might we achieve by framing corruption as a security concern?
This quick guide gives a short introduction to this complex issue as part of a two-part series on corruption, security and strategic corruption.
The 5th International Collective Action Conference represented another significant milestone in the development of responsible and ethical business practices through anti-corruption Collective Action.
The conference, hosted by the Basel Institute with the support of the Siemens Integrity Initiative, took place on 24 and 25 June 2024 in Basel, Switzerland. This short conference report presents main insights, quotes as well as infographics and graphic recordings from the two-day event, which welcomed around 200 people from around the world and across all sectors.
Publication
Quick Guide 32: Corruption and human rights
The relationships between corruption and human rights are complex but cry out for exploring. Could anti-corruption benefit from a human rights perspective? How can the two communities work better together – and what are some risks and challenges?
This Quick Guide gives a brief introduction to the ideas of the Basel Institute’s Vice-President, Professor Anne Peters, and some of our initial work at the intersection of corruption and human rights.
The authors of this academic paper discuss how attitudes to preventing and tackling corruption are different between cultures, and have also changed over time within them, focusing on the East (Asia) and the West (Western Europe & North America). This is particularly important for multi-national companies to consider when developing compliance programmes.