The Limits of Rule Governance

Corruption is now routinely seen as universally harmful, and has significantly moved up the agenda as a challenge for public policy. Given the putative negative consequences of corruption, it is understandable that governors wish to reduce - or eradicate - corruption. However, attempts to regulate corruption have often been based on passing formal rules to curb 'bad behaviour'. While this may be effective in stopping specific instances of corruption, it remains a problematic means through which to support integrity more widely since it fails to create a broader ethical climate.