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ABSTRACT
This article provides an overview of the current stage of academic research on corruption in China, including its various categories identified in the literature, the antecedents and consequences of corruption, as well as the governance mechanisms identified in the literature to mitigate corruption. By identifying major corruption related articles in journal outlets in China, organizing, summarizing, and synthesizing their main research methods and findings, we also highlight limitations of past research and propose avenues for future research in this field.
Keywords: Corruption, Anti-corruption, Bribery, Governance, China
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Introduction
'The party is at risk of failure unless we punish corruption, especially corruption at the high levels of the party'
- Deng Xiaopin (Chairman of the Central Military Commission of the CPC 1983-1990)
'If we do not firmly punish corruption, the flesh-and-blood ties between the party and the masses would be ruined, the party would be in danger of losing its ruling status and the party would suffer self-destruction'
- Jiang Zemin (Former CPC chief and President 1993-2003)
'To further promote anti-corruption efforts, we need to insist on the successful experiences gained through the Party 's long-term anti-corruption practice. We need to actively draw on effective practices conducted by foreign countries around the world, and our own valuable heritage'
- Xi Jinping (CPC chief and President 2013 - present)
What has made Chinese leaders for the past three generations so attentive to the issue of corruption? One potential motivator is the visibility of how those with political power also possess great wealth. For instance, the richest 70 delegates to the National People's Congress (NPC) had a net worth of approximately $90 billion (Hurun, 2011; Bardhan, 2014, pp9). This stands in stark contrast to another emerging economy country, India, where delegates to the Indian Parliament held $0.5 billion in assets (Bardhan, 2014, pp9). Likewise, in the United States Congress, there is not a single billionaire. However, six of China's ten wealthiest individuals are members of either the NPC or the Chinese People's Political Consultation Conference (Bardhan, 2014, pp9).
According to Transparency International (2015), China is an extremely corrupt nation, ranking 83rd out of 168 countries in the survey. The perceived level of corruption has been well below the full score...