We welcome Peter Y. Solmssen who serves as the Chairman of the Non-trial Resolutions Subcommittee of the International Bar Association.

The interview covers his unique role in serving as the general counsel after the allegations of foreign bribery against Siemens surfaced. Peter shares his views on the Siemens case in general and weighs in on why a successful and large company like Siemens developed systematic bribery schemes in the first place. Matthew and Peter discuss the benefits and challenges of administering penalties of foreign bribery not only to companies but also to individuals. Peter describes his wishlist of changes to the FCPA and how bribery schemes increasingly span across national borders need to be combatted. 

For more info on the Siemens scandal: https://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/21/business/worldbusiness/21siemens.html 

To find out more about Peter and his involvement in negotiating “the first internationally coordinated settlement of multiple foreign bribery prosecutions”, check out his Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Y._Solmssen.

For a fascinating read about his family’s roots in Germany check out this Die Zeit article (in German): https://www.zeit.de/2010/37/Siemens-Vorstand-Solmssen/komplettansicht 

In March 2017, Peter co-authored the Report “On Combating Corruption and Fostering Integrity “ to the Secretary General of the OECD: https://www.oecd.org/corruption/HLAG-Corruption-Integrity-SG-Report-March-2017.pdf 

Together with Prof. Tina Soreide (https://www.nhh.no/en/employees/faculty/tina-soreide/), Peter has founded and coordinated “The Recommendation 6 Network” a working group consisting academics, lawyers, corporate officers and NGOs: https://www.nhh.no/en/research-centres/corporate-compliance-and-enforcement/about/guidelines-for-non-trial-resolutions/

63. Peter Y. Solmssen on cleaning up the Siemens bribery scandal in his role as the general counsel

We welcome Andrii Borovyk (@Borovyk_UA), Executive Director of Transparency International Ukraine, and Gretta Fenner (@gretweets), the managing director of the Basel Institute for Governance. 
Andrii and Gretta describe their background and how they ended up in their current positions. 
How the invasion changed anti-corruption work within Ukraine, how reconstruction efforts have already begun, and which corruption risks need to be taken care of to ensure effective reconstruction efforts, emphasizing the need for powerful anti-corruption institutions, better conditionalities as well as open, accessible, and centralized public information repositories. The interview discusses the approach towards conditionalities taken by the IMF, how they change in times of war, and the importance of the donors' abilities to trace the money spent. Finally, the three discuss the need for an inspector general for Ukraine and whether to create new or strengthen existing anti-corruption institutions. 

Links during the episode:
Revolution of Dignity in Ukraine: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revolution_of_Dignity 
More information about the different anti-corruption institutions in Ukraine: https://soundcloud.com/kickback-gap/11-episode-daria-kaleniuk-final 
Strategic corruption in the context of Ukraine and Europe: https://soundcloud.com/kickback-gap/70-episode-oksana-huss-joseph-pozsgai-alvarez-on-the-war-in-ukraine 
The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU): https://nabu.gov.ua/en 
Joint paper by Basel Institute of Governance and TI Ukraine: https://baselgovernance.org/publications/ukraine-recovery-conference-anti-corruption-critical-condition-sustainable-recovery 
Prozorro Public Procurement Platform: https://prozorro.gov.ua/en 
Open Contracting Partnership: https://www.open-contracting.org/ 
Post-war reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan: https://soundcloud.com/kickback-gap/59-jodi-vittori-on-corruption-and-the-us-military-operation-in-afghanistan & https://soundcloud.com/kickback-gap/60-kate-bateman-on-the-special-inspector-general-for-afghanistan-reconstruction

81. Andrii Borovyk & Gretta Fenner an anti-corruption during the war & reconstruction in Ukraine

In the first of a series of episodes hosted by the Centre for the Study of Corruption at the University of Sussex, we welcome Daniel Kaufmann. Daniel is a senior fellow at Results for Development (R4D) and President Emeritus at the Natural Resource Governance Institute (NRGI). He is also a former Director of the World Bank where he headed programmes related to corruption and governance. He is well-known in the anti-corruption field for his work co-developing leading global indices, including the Worldwide Governance Indicators.

In this episode Daniel speaks to Liz Dávid-Barrett, Professor of Governance and Integrity at the University of Sussex, about his route into this field. As leading scholars on state capture, Daniel and Liz talk through the origins of the term in the 1990s and how the concept has evolved since then. The discussion takes us through several cases including countries in the Balkans, South Africa, the UK and US. The conversation finishes on the challenging measuring the problem of state capture.

82. Daniel Kaufmann and Liz Dávid-Barrett on state capture

This episode from the margins of the International Anti-Corruption Conference in Washington DC features Shannon Green, Executive Director of USAID's Anti-Corruption Task Force. Shannon talks to Liz Dávid-Barrett about the agency's new anti-corruption strategy. They also focus on the challenge of fighting kleptocracies and USAID's new dekleptification guide.

Here are links to the resources discussed

USAID anti-corruption strategy: https://www.usaid.gov/anti-corruption/policy

USAID dekleptification guide: https://www.usaid.gov/anti-corruption/dekleptification

85. Shannon Green on USAID's approach to anti-corruption and dekleptification

Claudia Baez Camargo, Head of Public Governance at the Basel Institute, talks to Liz Dávid-Barrett about her work on applying social norms theory to analysing corruption issues. The episode takes in examples of applied research in East Africa and Ukraine, while Claudia's thinking on corruption is also influenced by her upbringing in Mexico. 

Claudia describes some successes in altering social norms around corruption in health settings but equally some of the challenges in sustaining these initiatives. In addition, Claudia talks about her work analysing informal networks of corrupt actors as well as how we might use insights from behavioural science to improve anti-corruption interventions.

90. Claudia Baez Camargo on lessons from applying a social norms approach to corruption

Professor Dan Hough (University of Sussex), Professor Elizabeth Dávid-Barrett (University of Sussex/ International Anti-Corruption Academy) and Dr. Roxana Bratu (King's College London) provide an introduction to corruption measurement debates. They explore questions like:

How has measurement of corruption changed over the three decades?

What are the best tools currently available for measuring corruption? 

What are the strengths and weaknesses of these tools?

What are 'proxy indicators' for measuring corruption?

What do users actually want from corruption measurement tools?

93. Introduction to corruption measurement debates

Dr. Magnus Öhman, senior political finance adviser at the International Foundation for Electoral Systems, speaks to the Kickback team. Magnus discusses the challenges of corruption and political trust against the wider global context of increased democratic backsliding. There is specific focus on approaches to tackling the problem of illicit finance in politics, including the potential of artificial intelligence for improving transparency.

95. Magnus Öhman on political finance and corruption

The Kenyan anti-corruption campaigner and activist, John Githongo, speaks to Liz Dávid-Barrett (Centre for the Study of Corruption). The episode covers key moments in John's career including his involvement in the formation of Transparency International and time spent as Permanent Secretary for Governance and Ethics in the Kenyan government in the early 2000s. John and Liz further discuss what lessons can be taken from Kenya's fight against corruption and the particularly the role of anti-corruption institutions.

96. John Githongo on lessons from the fight against corruption in Kenya

Michela Wrong, journalist and author of It's Our Turn to Eat, speaks to Dr. Sam Power, Senior Lecturer in Politics at the Centre for the Study of Corruption. Named as the top book on corruption by The Guardian in 2023, It's Our Turn to Eat tells the story of John Githongo, the Kenyan activist and whistleblower interviewed in Episode 96. Michela talks to Sam about the issues raised in the book as well as her other writing including Do Not Disturb, her latest book on the abuse of power by the Kagame regime in Rwanda.

97. Michela Wrong on the story behind It's Our Turn to Eat and her writing on Africa

This is the second episode of the 'Introduction to' series in which experts provide an overview of some of the key issues in the corruption field. In this episode Liz Dávid-Barrett, Dan Hough and Sam Power (all Centre for the Study of Corruption) discuss the leading theories for corruption analysis, including rational choice, collective action and social norms approaches. This is a valuable overview for researchers new to these topics. Further links to Kickback  episodes with some of the leading theorists referenced are provided below.

Susan Rose-Ackerman on the principal-agent theory of corruption, https://soundcloud.com/kickback-gap/1-episode-susan-rose-ackerman

Bo Rothstein on corruption as a collective action problem: https://soundcloud.com/kickback-gap/5-episode-bo-rothstein

Diana Chigas and Cheyanne Scharbatke-Church on social norms: https://soundcloud.com/kickback-gap/49-diana-chigas-and-cheyanne-scharbatke-church-on-social-norms-approaches-to-anti-corruption

https://soundcloud.com/kickback-gap/49-diana-chigas-and-cheyanne-scharbatke-church-on-social-norms-approaches-to-anti-corruption

And for the first 'introduction to' episode on corruption measurement, see: https://soundcloud.com/kickback-gap/93-introduction-to-corruption-measurement-debates

98. Introduction to Corruption Theory

Huma Yusuf speaks to Tom Shipley about the links between business integrity and environmental, social and governance (ESG). Huma is Director of Business Integrity at British International Investment, an impact investor, and a key public commentator on climate change in Pakistan. In this podcast, Huma describes how anti-corruption and business integrity fit into the global business agenda on ESG, breaking down some of the key concepts and debates in this area. She also talks about working with businesses in emerging markets on these topics and some of the key challenges that arise.

Links to reports cited in the podcast are here:

Transparency International (2022) "Investing with integrity",https://www.transparency.org.uk/sites/default/files/pdf/publications/Investing%20with%20Integrity%20-%20Transparency%20International%20UK.pdf 

World Economic Forum (2022) "Investing in integrity in an increasingly complex world: the role of anti-corruption amid the ESG revolution", https://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Investing_in_Integrity_GFC_2022.pdf

99. Huma Yusuf on the links between business integrity and ESG

For this special anniversary episode, Kickback invited leading thinkers from around the globe to comment on the state of practice in the corruption field. We asked each individual to respond to one of two questions:

a) ​'what is one thing about corruption that you've changed your thinking on in the past 10 years?' 

b) 'what is the most significant development - positive or negative - in relation to corruption and corruption studies over the past thirty years?'

We got some fascinating responses. Take the time to listen to them all in or jump to an individual's comments from the links below. Here are our esteemed contributors:

Michael Johnston (2.34) - https://on.soundcloud.com/EM7ED 
Leena Koni Hoffmann (7.52) - https://on.soundcloud.com/HbLSy
Alina Mungiu-Pippidi (10.24) - https://on.soundcloud.com/RXYf2
Paul Heywood (12.51) - https://on.soundcloud.com/dA5Hg
Florencia Guerzovich (15.40) - https://on.soundcloud.com/6sbPW
Joseph Pozsgai-Alvarez (18.16) - https://on.soundcloud.com/Q54rJ
Jorge Alatorre (21.36) - https://on.soundcloud.com/yk8qf
Delia Ferreira Rubio (23.33) - https://on.soundcloud.com/ojHVn
Matthew Stephenson (26.55) - https://on.soundcloud.com/AwQ1Z
Susan Rose-Ackerman (29.43) - https://on.soundcloud.com/9H4m3
John Githongo (32.15) - https://on.soundcloud.com/fzfjn
Jon Quah (33.34) - https://on.soundcloud.com/mdSgr
Laode Muhammad Syarif (36.12) - https://on.soundcloud.com/gu2mC

To see categories of past episodes, go to our playlists page - https://soundcloud.com/kickback-gap/sets

100. The state of practice in the corruption field: insights from leading global thinkers

Leading academics from the Centre for the Study of Corruption sit down to discuss what we learnt from Episode 100. The anniversary episode featured insights on the state of anti-corruption practice from some of the leading global thinkers in the field. 

Here, Robert Barrington, Liz Dávid-Barrett, Dan Hough and Sam Power debate some of the key questions raised, including:

To what extent we should be optimistic about the future for anti-corruption work?
What is the proper place for corruption theory in understanding key developments in the field?
And what are the roles that different groups of actors can play in the next phase of anti-corruption initiatives?

101. Reflections on the key issues raised in Episode 100

In episode 102 Robert Barrington (Centre for the Study of Corruption), Guy Beringer KC (Hon) (Chair of the Taskforce on Business Ethics and the Legal Profession), Liz Dávid-Barrett (Centre for the Study of Corruption) and Tena Prelec (University of Rijeka) discuss the topic of so-called 'professional enablers'. Distinguishing between legal and illegal functions, the group discuss the types of activities related to corruption that the term might (and might not) encompass. They provide plenty of case examples from around the globe involving different types of professionals, such as accountants, consultants and lawyers. There is then a particular focus on the legal profession and the pathways available for raising professional standards. This includes a discussion some of the legal ethics issues raised by this topic.

102. Professional enablers and transnational corruption: How can standards be raised?

In this episode Professor Dan Hough (Centre for the Study of Corruption) speaks to Professor Robert Klitgaard (Claremont Graduate University). Robert is a well-known and influential academic in the corruption field. He talks us through the origins of his ideas in applying institutional economic theory to understanding corruption issues, as originally set out in Controlling Corruption (1988). Robert then discusses other research interests and influences, including the anthropological literature on corruption and challenges related to elitism in developing and developed countries. Robert and Dan lastly talk about Robert's recent research in Bhutan and the lessons it might hold for other countries pursuing anti-corruption reforms. 

Details on Robert's previous and upcoming publications are available here: https://www.cgu.edu/people/robert-klitgaard/

103. Robert Klitgaard on different lenses for analysing corruption

Dr. Andreas Bågenholm (University of Gothenburg) and Dr. Rekha Diwakar (University of Sussex) join Prof. Dan Hough to discuss anti-corruption political parties. These parties have proliferated in different parts of the world in the last two decades. Andreas and Rekha draw on their research in Europe and India respectively to talk about where these parties come from and what they stand for. The group then look at how these parties have actually performed when they have entered into government, assessing in particular the track record of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Delhi. We learn how these parties tend to evolve over time and can even become caught up in accusations of corruption involving their own members.

104. Anti-corruption political parties: how do they emerge and what is their track record?

Daniel Freund is a Member of the European Parliament and former Head of Advocacy for European Union Integrity at Transparency International. In this episode he speaks to Prof. Dan Hough about the different dimensions to the EU's fight against corruption. 

The discussion starts with the struggle to protect EU institutions from undue influence, a problem illustrated by Qatargate, a lobbying scandal Daniel describes as the "tip of the iceberg". Daniel also discusses challenges in building institutional resilience to corruption within potential accession countries as well as EU member states themselves. This includes thinking through some of the key challenges, such as how should the EU be responding to autocratic regimes like Viktor Orbán's government in Hungary?

105. Daniel Freund on the responsibilities of the European Union in fighting corruption.

Continuing our chapter on kleptocracy and state capture, this episode features Sankhitha Gunaratne, Deputy Executive Director of Transparency International Sri Lanka. She speaks to Liz David-Barrett (Centre for the Study of Corruption) about TI's work to combat state capture in the country. 

The recent economic crisis in Sri Lanka has laid bare the extent to which kleptocratic actors have captured key pillars of the state. Sankhitha describes the different tactics used, including the suppression of accountability institutions and militarisation of key government positions. She then outlines TI's response, which has included the use of strategic litigation and leveraging the influence of international financial institutions. 

There are lots of lessons here for understanding how state capture develops and how it is possible to fight back.

106. Sankhitha Gunaratne on combating state capture in Sri Lanka

In this episode, Liz Dávid-Barrett, Becky Dobson-Phillips and Dan Hough (all Centre for the Study of Corruption) talk through some of the key considerations involved in defining corruption. They begin by discussing the strengths and limitations of the mainstream public office centred definition of corruption developed by Joseph S Nye (see below). Becky then introduces a new conceptual framework for defining corruption in context. This covers different dimensions to corruption, including notable contemporary manifestations.

Aimed at students new to the study of corruption, this is the latest in Kickback's series providing introductions to important debates in the corruption field. Similar episodes on corruption theory (Episode 98) and corruption measurement (Episode 93) can be found in the tracklist.  

A link to the paper discussed can be found here: https://www.sussex.ac.uk/webteam/gateway/file.php?name=csc-wp-series-dobson-et-al-defining-corruption-final.pdf&site=405

For reference, the Nye definition of corruption is as follows

“Behaviour which deviates from the formal duties of a public role because of private regarding (personal, close family, private clique) pecuniary or status gains; or violates rules against the exercise of certain types of private-regarding influence.” (Nye 1967)

107. Introduction to defining corruption

Alison Taylor, Clinical Associate Professor at NYU Stern School of Business, speaks to Prof. Dan Hough (Centre for the Study of Corruption) on the topic of business ethics. 

Alison talks about her early career investigating corruption by businesses before she moved into the broader space of corporate responsibility and business ethics. Alison describes the impact of international anti-bribery laws on businesses but also raises some questions about the corporate compliance regimes these laws have created. 

Alison's new book, Higher Ground: How Business Can Do the Right Thing in a Turbulent World, looks at these and other critical questions around ethics for businesses.

108. Alison Taylor on anti-corruption in the changing landscape for business ethics

In this episode Gretta Fenner (Managing Director, Basel Institute on Governance) and Daniel Eriksson (CEO, Transparency International) talk to Liz Dávid-Barrett (Centre for the Study of Corruption) about the links between corruption and national security issues. The episode follows from the Munich Security Conference where Daniel and Gretta raised the issue of corruption as a key policy concern. The group discuss the new global context of heightened insecurity and the implications this has for those working to counter corruption. 

Liz also asks Daniel and Gretta about "strategic corruption", defined in the US Strategy on Countering Corruption as "when a government weaponizes corrupt practices as a tenet of its foreign policy". This is a term which has gained significant policy attention. It however raises questions as to whether using the term involves anti-corruption campaigners "picking sides" in this new context of global insecurity  .

109. The links between corruption and national security issues

Richard Nephew, the US Department of State's Coordinator on Global Anti-Corruption, speaks to Liz Dávid-Barrett (Centre for the Study of Corruption) about the US strategy on countering corruption. The episode explores some of the aims and practicalities involved in implementing different pillars of the strategy, including attempts to strengthen the multilateral anti-corruption architecture. Richard and Liz also talk about the key outcomes to emerge from the recent UN Conference of the States Parties to the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC), hosted in the US.

Below are links to some of the key documents discussed in the episode.

US Strategy on Countering Corruption: https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/United-States-Strategy-on-Countering-Corruption.pdf

Strategy Implementation Plan: https://www.state.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/U.S.-Strategy-on-Countering-Corruption-Implementation-Plan-9.5.2023-FINAL.pdf

Fact Sheet on the Strategy: https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/12/06/fact-sheet-u-s-strategy-on-countering-corruption/

110. Richard Nephew on coordinating US efforts to counter corruption

The journalist Tom Burgis speaks to Prof. Liz Dávid-Barrett about his work investigating corruption across different continents. Tom talks about he got into journalism and what goes into researching these books. His books cover what Tom calls the rise of kleptocracy since the end of the Cold War. The latest - Cuckooland - grapples with some of the challenges for journalists in scrutinising public figures in a 'post-truth' society.

111. Tom Burgis on investigating corruption and the fight to own the truth

John Penrose MP, the former UK government Anti-Corruption Champion (2017 - 2022), joins us for this episode. He speaks to Professor Robert Barrington (Centre for the Study of Corruption) about the lessons learnt from his time in the role. This includes taking us behind the scenes to understand what the role of the government Anti-Corruption Champion entails. John also discusses the major developments and drivers behind UK anti-corruption policy during this period as well as some of the key moments, including his decision to stand down from the role during Boris Johnson's administration. John and Robert finally look to the future to consider what the UK's anti-corruption infrastructure could and should look like in the years to come.

112. John Penrose (MP) on his experiences as the UK government's Anti-Corruption Champion

In this latest chapter on state capture, Ketakandriana Rafitoson (Vice-Chair, Transparency International; Executive Director of Transparency International Initiative Madagascar) outlines how this problem manifests in Madagascar and the harms caused. She speaks to Tom Shipley (Researcher, Centre for the Study of Corruption) about how state capture has unfolded in key sectors, including in the exploitation of natural resources, and the role that international firms and states have played. Ketakandriana also describes the innovative approaches civil society have taken to fighting back against networks of corrupt actors. 

Further information on the case in the lychee sector mentioned by Ketakandriana can be found here, https://www.transparency.mg/telechargements/assainir-la-gouvernance-de-la-filiere-litchi-afin-den-exploiter-pleinement-le-potentiel/

The report on international enablers, 'loophole masters' can be found here, https://www.transparency.org/en/publications/loophole-masters

113. Ketakandriana Rafitoson on state capture In Madagascar and its international linkages

The discussion between Matthew and Susan touches on how Susan got interested in corruption – by experiences made within the US -, how her scope of interest has expanded,  and why her seminal book was not an immediate success. 

Susan points to the experimental field work by Benjamin Olken and the creative approach to measuring corruption by Ray Fisman.
Susan and Matthew discuss the differences between the Principal Agent Theory of corruption and the prominent critique arguing that corruption is rather a collective action problem (see episode Episode 5 of KickBack, https://soundcloud.com/kickback-gap/5-episode-bo-rothstein). 

Picks of the podcast:
The picks by Susan are: 
-  the theoretical work on public choice by Nobel laureate Amartya Sen. 
- George Washington Plunkitt a Tammany Hall political boss in New York City and his famous speech from 1905 on honest and dishonest graft.
- The work by John Gardiner on Town X

1. Susan Rose-Ackerman on the principal-agent theory of corruption

Matthew Stephenson sits down with Bo Rothstein, who holds the holds the August Röhss Chair in Political Science and the co-founder of the  Quality of Government Institute at the University of Gothenburg. The Kickback interview kicks off with the reasons how Bo got interested in corruption when working on the inefficiencies in public procurement and how these experiences led him to put “human well-being as the dependent variable” of his research. 
As was to be expected when of the world’s leading thinkers on corruption talk it out, the interview touches on many of the debates within corruption research. How to define corruption? What have we learned about corruption in the past decades of research? How are these insights applicable to practitioners aiming to reduce corruption?

The answers range from 
-	an impartiality based definitions of corruption and how it relates  to the concept of rule of law
-	how to define corruption by first specifying what the opposite of corruption is 
-	how reducing corruption might not be achieved via quick fixes but needs long term solutions, e.g. fostering gender equality
-	how corruption and democracy relate to each other when it comes to achieving human well-being and happiness
-	… and many more

We hope you enjoy the episode. If you have feedback, feel free to send us an email at info@icrnetwork.org

5. Bo Rothstein on corruption as a collective action problem and long term fixes

In the first part Mushtaq and Paul outline the milestones in their carriers as corruption researchers. 

ACE
The next section of the interview takes a deep dive into the Anti Corruption Evidence Program. Paul outlines how it was initiated after concerns about the lack of evaluation of development projects and the risk of development spending being lost due to corruption were voiced. As a response DiFiD developed AntiCorruption Evidence, which has two parts:
A Research partnership consortium led SOAS ACE which is led by Mushtaq and GI ACE which consists of grants competition for leading international researchers to examine the most effective ways to fight corruption.
Mushtaq gives some background information about how SOAS ACE consists of projects that are linked and share a common theory of change, which focus on Nigeria, Tanzania and Bangladesh. Mushtaq argues that the reason why many anti corruption efforts have failed lies in the assumption that most people in developing countries follow rules and a few greedy people break the rules. The common approach has then been to  find and punish these “bad apples” in order to get rid of corruption. SOAS ACE however starts from the assumption that in many developing nations, people do not have the capacities to follow rules leading to a large informal sector. Also politics in developing nations is different. There is less tax revenue in developing nations, leading to more clientelism. 
In order to then bring about anti-corruption one has to identify the demand for anti corruption. That is, finding organizations which need a rule of law in their own interest and are powerful enough to demand it. He then outlines how the rule of law is different from rule by law and how economics can help to identify a market for anti corruption. 

Paul in turn outlines the approach of GI ACE which has four features: a) Focus on anti-corruption, b) a focus on real world problems real issues, c) politics of anti-corruption, and d) demonstrating  impact. It marks a swing towards local problem driven approaches. In this work GI ACE is focused on three core themes, namely International architecture enabling illicit financial flows, promoting integrity and moving away from nations as units of analysis. 
He comments on whether the integrity turn by organizations such as OECD and World bank indeed offers a better approach than classical anti corruption efforts. 
In the last part of the interview you can find out how much cross-fertilization happens between GI and SOAS ACE and how Paul’s and Mushtaq’s views differ when it comes to intrinsic integrity and how research in behavioral ethics might provide empirical answers (for more info on the study by Gächter that Paul mentions see references or this Kickback episode: https://soundcloud.com/kickback-gap/17-shaul-shalvi) 

References
Matthew’s blog post Blogging in a Time of (Mostly Unrelated) Crisis–A Note to Readers can be found here: https://tinyurl.com/GABCorona 
Gächter, S., & Schulz, J. F. (2016). Intrinsic honesty and the prevalence of rule violations across societies. Nature, 531(7595), 496-499.

27. Mushtaq Khan and Paul Heywood on Anti-Corruption Evidence (Part I)

This week we interview Irio Musskopf (@irio), one of the founders of the AI-based anti-corruption project Operacao Serenata do Amor (https://serenata.ai/en/) in Brazil. The interview provides detailed insights into how open government data paired with intelligent algorithms can be used to promote integrity.

The interview kicks off with a short outline how the panel on AI as an Anti-corruption tool chaired by Nils, Christopher and Steven Gawthorpe (@SteveGawthorpe) at last year’s Interdisciplinary Corruption Research Forum in Kyiv (https://www.icrnetwork.org/what-we-do/conferences/icr-forum-kyiv-2019/) and a recent report by Per Aarvik for U4 (https://www.u4.no/publications/artificial-intelligence-a-promising-anti-corruption-tool-in-development-settings) inspired Kickback to invite Irio for the interview.
In the interview, Irio outlines in much detail how the project came about, what challenges the team had to overcome and how it has been received by journalists, politicians and the public.

Irio describes the statistical approach used to detect suspicious spending patterns, referring to normal distribution and standard deviations. In case statistics is not your strong suit, you can check out this short explanation (https://statisticsbyjim.com/basics/normal-distribution/)

Chris, Nils and Irio also discuss the role that machines and humans play in such new anti-corruption efforts, whether and where humans might be replaced by intelligent algorithms and which tasks require the involvement of human decision making. 

The interview covers the Twitter bot Rosie da Serenata (@RosieDaSerenata) that automatically tweets out suspicious cases.  

For some further reading:
* Report published at the end of the 3 months financed by the first crowdfunding campaign.

https://medium.com/serenata/the-last-serenade-65fc1a9a0e2f

* Measuring the impact of the operation after one year of the first mass report to the Congress

https://medium.com/serenata/o-impacto-do-controle-social-na-c%C3%A2mara-dos-deputados-c2b2a34db09e

33. Irio Musskopf on using Artificial Intelligence to fight corruption

Lola Adekanye (@lola_kanye) is a Senior Program Officer, Africa at the Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE). 

Her background in compliance and banking got Lola interested in development and ethics, a stopover at the World Bank. Lola describes CIPE’s work at the intersection of the private and public sector, using market-oriented reforms to tackle corruption, with the key goal: drive up the cost of corruption and drive up the cost of compliance.

Lola describes joint work with the University of Sussex trying to get a better understanding why people do not engage in corruption. She also describes concrete ideas against corruption, such as the Compliance Clubs in Kenya that provide a support network for enterprises to do business without engaging corruption. 

The interview touches on how corruption in Subsaharan African is often a survival issue, listen to the short term reasons to develop long term solutions. They follow the principle of 3R consisting of:

How to RESPOND to request of corruption by providing them with realistic alternatives 
RECORD the request and pass it on to the higher level
REPORT the request in order to get an estimate of how often such payment request occur

Lola describes the Ethics first project as an example for realistic ethics guidelines and cautions against short-term impact measures as change often takes time and requires institutionalization of ethics. 

Her advice for young scholars is crucial: stay in the game and don’t burn out by taking small steps towards improvement.

Strengthening Ethical Conduct and Business Integrity: A Guide for Companies in Emerging Markets: https://www.cipe.org/resources/strengthening-ethical-conduct-business-integrity-a-guide-for-companies-in-emerging-markets/

Free Anti-Corruption online course: https://cipe.course.tc/login?error=no_cookie&id=&course_title=Anti-Corruption%20Compliance%20Training&wp=/ac-compliance/

46. Lola Adekanye on the anti-corruption efforts by the Center for International Private Enterprises

This podcast series features in-depth interviews with a wide range of corruption experts, on questions such as:
What have we learned from 20+ years of (anti)corruption research? 
Why and how does power corrupt?
Which theories help to make sense of corruption?
What can we do to manage corruption?
How to recovery stolen assets?

KickBack - The Global Anticorruption Podcast

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