Political Corruption as the Result of Electoral Competition, Not Character Weakness

Abstract

Political corruption according to this commentary is inevitable but not unique. Competition, not character deficiencies, causes cheating in politics, economics, education, and elsewhere. Political corruption is still associated with extraconstitutional political parties, handy devices for exploiting legal and constitutional loopholes. The 1883 Pendleton Act sought to reduce the ability of political winners to reward supporters, but this change was too indirect. Instruction on public integrity now comes from politicians immersed in a corrupt system.