Following decades of increasing globalization, the world’s economy has been shifting toward more economic nationalism. Markers thereof include the return of industrial policy, reshoring and so-called “friendshoring,” the imposition of new tariffs, and more. While debating the relative merits and drawbacks of such policies is not for these pages, it is worth exploring here how these trends impact the fight against corruption...

The G20’s Global Infrastructure Outlook projects that the world is on track for $79 trillion in infrastructure spending by 2040, with an additional $15 trillion needs gap. That volume of funds gives rise to an elevated corruption risk, requiring accountability and oversight. Against that backdrop, CoST, the Infrastructure Transparency Initiative, founded in 2012 after a three-year pilot, uses an approach blending: government, private sector and civil society engagement; data

Continuing to assess what a post-USAID world means for efforts to advance anti-corruption, transparency and good governance, I spoke recently with Blair Glencorse and Cheri Leigh Erasmus, Co-CEOs of Accountability Lab. Glencorse launched Accountability Lab in 2012 to work with youth to drive new thinking and energy in the space. Accountability Lab elevated localization before it became a buzzword, building a network of local organizations that both tap into and generate momen

My conversation with Open Contracting Partnership (OCP) Executive Director Gavin Hayman and Head of Communications Georg Neumann continued with an exploration of two issues: 1) infrastructure procurement, particularly regarding Ukrainian reconstruction and China’s global role in the sector; and 2) developments in beneficial ownership transparency (BOT).

According to the OECD, “public procurement is the government activity most vulnerable to waste, mismanagement and corruption,” and over “half of foreign bribery cases occurred to obtain a public procurement contract.” Of course, discussion of corruption in public procurement has lately become hotly politicized in the US. But politics should not stop the integrity community from tackling this very real challenge.

Corruption is a key driver of extreme poverty and inequality throughout the world. While an exact figure remains elusive, the UN estimates that corruption costs $2.6 trillion annually, or 5% of the world's GDP. Corruption is also a destabilizing force that is frequently at the heart of global events.