UNUnited Nations Economic Commission for Europe

Press Releases 2000

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UNECE Spring Seminar

Corruption in development: grease or sand?

"Creating a Supportive Environment for Business Enterprise
and Economic Growth: Institutional Reform and Governance"

Monday, 7 May 2001
(Palais des Nations, Room XVII)

Geneva, 3 May 2001

On Monday, 7 May 2001, the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) will hold its Spring Seminar on the theme: " Creating a Supportive Environment for Business Enterprise and Economic Growth: Institutional Reform and Governance " (see programme).

The Seminar will address issues and topics such as: Corruption in economic transition and development: grease or sand? Governance and corruption in transition: the challenge of subverting corruption; Public and corporate governance - the institutional foundations of the market economy; and Institutional change and economic performance in the transition economies.

The session on "Public and corporate governance - the institutional foundations of the market economy" will focus on the basic responsibilities of the state in creating and sustaining the institutional framework of a market economy and on the importance of a competent, honest, transparent and effectual public administration. The role of public governance in promoting economic stability and a favourable climate for fixed investment; and on effective corporate governance as a prerequisite for economic restructuring and growth will also be discussed.

The session on "Institutional change and economic performance in the transition economies" will review and evaluate the actual developments in institution building and reform since the early 1990s in the transition economies. It will discuss why some countries appear to have moved further ahead than others, and assess the extent to which the different institutional frameworks have contributed to economic growth and structural change in eastern Europe and the CIS countries. Policy issues to be discussed include how to introduce effective competition policies, the possibilities for investment promotion, and the scope for industrial policy.

The session on "Corruption in economic transition and development: grease or sand?" will explore the role that malfunctioning and missing institutions play in slowing down economic growth and structural change. It will review and evaluate the various channels through which corruption can affect economic growth (e.g. multinational activity, trade openness, and local entrepreneurship); and assess the extent to which corruption is slowing down the economic transformation of eastern Europe and the CIS countries. Further issues, such as the relationship between corruption and the composition of foreign direct investment and the causal link between economic growth (and poverty) and malfunctioning and missing institutions will also be explored.

The session on "Governance and corruption in transition: the challenge of subverting corruption" will review and evaluate the different strategies for controlling corruption and improving governance. It will explore the linkage between economic policy and grand corruption; and examine ways of providing transparency and accountability of government expenditures. The relationship between malfunctioning and missing institutions and legitimacy of the State will also be explored. Finally, the seminar will also discuss what methods should be used for evaluating the anticorruption strategies.

The Seminar is open to the public.

For further information please contact:

Economic Analysis Division
United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE)
Palais des Nations
CH - 1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland

Tel: (+41 22) 917 27 78
Fax: (+41 22) 917 03 09
E-mail: [email protected]

Website: http://www.unece.org/ead/ead_h.htm

 Ref: ECE/GEN/01/10