Combating police corruption in five Asian countries: a comparative analysis

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 197-216
Author(s):  
Jon S.T. Quah
Keyword(s):  
Comparative Analysis ◽  
South Korea ◽  
Police Officers ◽  
The Philippines ◽  
Asian Countries ◽  
Police Corruption ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Red Tape ◽  
Contextual Differences

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to analyse the contextual differences and causes of police corruption in Indonesia, Japan, the Philippines, South Korea and Taiwan and to assess their governments’ effectiveness in minimising this problem. Design/methodology/approach The paper begins by identifying the contextual differences in the five countries before analysing their major causes of police corruption and their governments’ effectiveness in minimising it. Findings Police corruption is a more serious problem in Indonesia and the Philippines because of their more difficult governance environments, low salaries of police officers, red tape, lack of meritocracy in recruitment and promotion, and lack of accountability of police officers. By contrast, the perceived extent of police corruption has declined in Japan, South Korea and Taiwan in recent years because of the improvement in the salaries of their police officers and the implementation of various police reforms. Originality/value This comparative analysis of combating police corruption in five Asian countries will be of interest to policy makers and scholars concerned with minimising this problem.

Emissions and trade in Southeast and East Asian countries: a panel co-integration analysis

2015 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 460-475 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mansor H. Ibrahim ◽  
Syed Aun R. Rizvi
Keyword(s):  
Hong Kong ◽  
South Korea ◽  
East Asian ◽  
Estimation Method ◽  
The Philippines ◽  
Least Square ◽  
Trade Policies ◽  
Asian Countries ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Long Run

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to analyse the implication of trade on carbon emissions in a panel of eight highly trading Southeast and East Asian countries, namely, China, Indonesia, South Korea, Malaysia, Hong Kong, The Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. Design/methodology/approach – The analysis relies on the standard quadratic environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) extended to include energy consumption and international trade. A battery of panel unit root and co-integration tests is applied to establish the variables’ stochastic properties and their long-run relations. Then, the specified EKC is estimated using the panel dynamic ordinary least square (OLS) estimation technique. Findings – The panel co-integration statistics verifies the validity of the extended EKC for the countries under study. Estimation of the long-run EKC via the dynamic OLS estimation method reveals the environmentally degrading effects of trade in these countries, especially in ASEAN and plus South Korea and Hong Kong. Practical implications – These countries are heavily dependent on trade for their development processes, and as such, their impacts on CO2 emissions would be highly relevant for assessing their trade policies, along the line of the gain-from-trade hypothesis, the race-to-the-bottom hypothesis and the pollution-safe-haven hypothesis. Originality/value – The analysis adds to existing literature by focusing on the highly trading nations of Southeast and East Asian countries. The results suggest that reassessment of trade policies in these countries is much needed and it must go beyond the sole pursuit of economic development via trade.

Combating corruption in six Asian countries: a comparative analysis

2016 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 244-262 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jon S.T. Quah
Keyword(s):  
Comparative Analysis ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
The Other ◽  
Asian Countries ◽  
Special Issue ◽  
Political Will ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Brunei Darussalam ◽  
Different Levels

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to compare the experiences of the six Asian countries covered in this special issue and explain their different levels of effectiveness in combating corruption. Design/methodology/approach – This paper analyses the policy contexts in these countries, their perceived extent and causes of corruption, and evaluates the effectiveness of their anti-corruption agencies (ACAs). Findings – Brunei Darussalam is less corrupt because it is the smallest, least populated and richest country, without being embroiled in conflict compared to the other five larger countries, which are more populous but poorer and adversely affected by conflict. The Sultan’s political will in combating corruption is reflected in the better staffed and funded Anti-Corruption Bureau, which has prosecuted and convicted more corrupt offenders. By contrast, the lack of political will of the governments in the other five countries is manifested in their ineffective ACAs, which are not independent, lack capacity and resources, and are used against political opponents. Originality/value – This paper will be useful for those scholars, policy-makers and anti-corruption practitioners interested in how effective these six Asian countries are in combating corruption and the reasons for their different levels of effectiveness.

East Asia to bear the brunt of shipbuilding slump

2016 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
South Korea ◽  
East Asia ◽  
Lower Cost ◽  
The Philippines ◽  
Asian Countries ◽  
Political Factors ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Freight Rates ◽  
Financial Pressure ◽  
Low Levels

Significance The world's three major shipbuilding countries -- China, South Korea and Japan -- face difficult market conditions due to oversupply in the shipping sector. Although all three face this common problem, the nature of their predicament and their responses vary, reflecting different industrial, financial and political contexts. Impacts Another wave of speculative orders would worsen oversupply, depress freight rates further and put the sector under more financial pressure. Domestic political factors will be an obstacle to addressing overcapacity in China and South Korea. The position of major producers could be challenged by lower-cost suppliers from other Asian countries, notably the Philippines and Vietnam. Japan and South Korea will face stronger Chinese competition as China's firms become more technologically advanced. If demolitions of old tonnage continue, the supply-demand imbalance may correct, as long as new orders remain at their current low levels.

Evaluating the effectiveness of anti-corruption agencies in five Asian countries

2015 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 143-159 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jon S. T. Quah
Keyword(s):  
The Philippines ◽  
Policy Recommendations ◽  
Asian Countries ◽  
Political Will ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Governance Indicators ◽  
Percentile Rank ◽  
Central Commission ◽  
Corrupt Party

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is threefold: first, to ascertain the levels of effectiveness of the anti-corruption agencies (ACAs) in China, Japan, Philippines, Singapore and Taiwan; second, to explain why some of these ACAs are more effective than others; and third, to suggest some policy recommendations for addressing their limitations. Design/methodology/approach – This paper relies on three well-known international indicators to assess the perceived extent of corruption in the five countries. Similarly, their quality of governance is assessed by their total percentile rank on the World Bank’s six governance indicators in 2013. Findings – Singapore’s Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau is effective because of its government’s political will and favorable policy context. The Philippines and Taiwan rely on ineffective multiple ACAs, which are inadequately staffed and funded, and compete with each other for limited resources. China’s Central Commission for Discipline Inspection is ineffective because corrupt party members are disciplined and not prosecuted, and the political leaders use corruption as a weapon against their opponents. Japan’s weak political will is reflected in its reluctance to address its structural corruption. This paper concludes with policy recommendations for enhancing the effectiveness of the ACAs in the five countries. Originality/value – The comparative analysis of the effectiveness of the ACAs in the five Asian countries and the policy recommendations for addressing their limitations will be of interest to policy makers, scholars and anti-corruption practitioners.

The roots of police corruption and anti-corruption reform in South Korea

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 169-182
Author(s):  
Jin-Wook Choi ◽  
Jina Bak
Keyword(s):  
South Korea ◽  
Police Officers ◽  
The South ◽  
Police Corruption ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Reform Agenda ◽  
South Korean ◽  
Code Of Silence ◽  
Police Organizations ◽  
And Control

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the roots of police corruption, evaluate the effectiveness of anti-corruption measures, and suggest recommendations to prevent and control police corruption in South Korea. Design/methodology/approach This paper adopts a qualitative approach to identify the key causes and to assess the reform agenda of police corruption in South Korea. In doing so, it introduces a brief history and profile of the police force, explores changes in police corruption, identifies the roots of police corruption, assesses the effectiveness of anti-corruption measures and offers policy recommendations to curb corruption in the South Korean police. Findings This paper claims that conventional and current anti-corruption measures have not been effective in minimizing police corruption in South Korea. It identifies the scope of police work and duties without proper accountability, a code of silence in police organizations, the low ethical standards of police officers and weak punitive measures against corrupt police officers as the main causes of corruption. Strenuous reform efforts that directly target these causes are needed to reduce corruption in the South Korean police. Originality/value This paper will be a useful reference for readers who are interested in why corruption has not been effectively prevented and controlled in the South Korean police.

Combating police corruption in Indonesia: cleansing the buaya (crocodile)

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 129-143
Author(s):  
Jon S.T. Quah
Keyword(s):  
Survey Data ◽  
Police Officers ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
The Political ◽  
Political Will ◽  
Police Corruption ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Ability To Pay ◽  
Secondary Sources

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explain why police corruption is rampant in Indonesia by analysing its perceived extent, causes and anti-corruption measures. Design/methodology/approach The paper relies on primary and secondary sources and survey data to analyse the perceived extent and causes of police corruption in Indonesia. Findings Police corruption is widespread in Indonesia because of the inadequate budget allocated to the police, police officers are paid low salaries and recruited and promoted on their ability to pay bribes instead of merit, corrupt police officers are not detected or punished and corrupt behaviour is tolerated by many Indonesians. Consequently, policy makers in Indonesia can only minimise police corruption if they have the political will and capacity to introduce appropriate reforms to address its five causes. Originality/value This paper will be useful to those scholars, policy makers and anti-corruption practitioners who are interested in learning about the extent and causes of police corruption in Indonesia and why efforts to curb it are ineffective.

Learning from Singapore’s effective anti-corruption strategy

2017 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-29 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jon S.T. Quah
Keyword(s):  
South Korea ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Public Outreach ◽  
Political Will ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Content Type ◽  
South Korean ◽  
The Law ◽  
Contextual Differences ◽  
Operational Autonomy

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explain why Singapore has succeeded in curbing corruption and to recommend three measures for enhancing South Korea’s anti-corruption strategy. Design/methodology/approach The paper compares the contextual differences between Singapore and South Korea before analysing Singapore’s effective anti-corruption strategy and identifying the weaknesses of South Korea’s anti-corruption strategy. Findings Singapore’s success in minimising corruption is the result of its government’s strong political will and the adequate budget, personnel and operational autonomy given to the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau to enable it to enforce the anti-corruption laws impartially. To improve South Korea’s anti-corruption strategy, the Korea Anti-Corruption Agency should be established and adequately staffed and funded to investigate corruption cases. Those found guilty of corruption offences should be punished according to the law, without suspending their jail sentences or being pardoned by the president. Finally, the existing public outreach anti-corruption programmes should be evaluated to identify their weaknesses and improve their effectiveness. Originality/value This paper recommends three measures for South Korean policy-makers to improve their anti-corruption strategy by learning from Singapore’s success.

Curbing police corruption in Singapore: lessons for other Asian countries

2014 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 186-222 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jon S.T. Quah
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Colonial Period ◽  
Asian Countries ◽  
Police Corruption ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Selection Procedures ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Party Government ◽  
British Colonial ◽  
Recruitment And Selection

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explain why Singapore has succeeded in curbing the problem of police corruption and to identify the six lessons which other Asian countries can learn from Singapore's experience. Design/methodology/approach – The paper analyzes the causes of police corruption in Singapore during the British colonial period and describes the measures adopted by the People's Action Party government after assuming office in June 1959 to curb police corruption. The effectiveness of these measures is assessed by referring to Singapore's perceived extent of corruption according to three international indicators and the reported cases of police corruption from 1965 to 2011. Findings – The Singapore Police Force has succeeded in minimizing police corruption by improving salaries and working conditions, cooperating with the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau, enhancing its recruitment and selection procedures, providing training and values education for its members, and adopting administrative measures to reduce the opportunities for corruption. Other Asian countries afflicted with rampant police corruption can learn six lessons from Singapore's success. Originality/value – This paper will be of interest to those policy makers, scholars, and anti-corruption practitioners, who are interested in learning how Singapore has succeeded in curbing police corruption.

China tensions will obstruct regional FTA expansion

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
South Korea ◽  
Regional Development ◽  
Economic Effect ◽  
Economic Cooperation ◽  
The Philippines ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Game Changer

Significance China’s entry would be a game-changer. Its economy is larger than all the current CPTPP members' combined, and Beijing would gain another platform for implementing its policies on trade, investment, economic cooperation and regional development. Impacts Enlargement can significantly enhance the partnership’s economic effect for its member nations. Expansion prospects increase the incentive for other nations to apply, such as South Korea, Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines. Washington will be involved indirectly, influencing how China's application is handled and buffering pressure vis-a-vis Taiwan.

Police corruption and its control in the Philippines

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 157-168 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric Vincent Celestial Batalla
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
The Philippines ◽  
Internal Controls ◽  
Police Corruption ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Academic Literature ◽  
National Police ◽  
Governance Reforms

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to analyse police corruption in the Philippines and to assess measures to control it. Design/methodology/approach The paper identifies the causes of police corruption and assesses anti-corruption measures adopted by the Philippine National Police and other agencies. The paper utilizes surveys, interviews, reported cases and official documents to determine the extent of police corruption, identify its causes and assess the effectiveness of anti-corruption measures. Findings Police corruption is systemic in the Philippines. Political and economic circumstances, both historical and contemporary, combined with weak internal controls and other inadequate anti-corruption measures perpetuate systemic police corruption. Originality/value The paper contributes to the academic literature on police corruption in the Philippines. It would be of interest to policymakers, scholars, as well as anti-corruption and development practitioners who are involved in institutional and governance reforms.

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