Corruption ‘Useful’ in Promoting Economic Growth, New Moscow Book Claims

Paul Goble

            Staunton, February 2 – Oleg Matveychev of the Higher School of Economics and political technologist Artem Akopyan have released a new book, Myths about Corruption,” which argues that “corruption is not only not harmful but even very useful because it promoted economic growth.”

            The book, according to a review in today’s Novyye izvestiya, provides numerous example to make what the paper says is this “sensational” claim, with suggestions that if bureaucrats make money from corruption and then invest it in building housing for themselves the country benefits (newizv.ru/article/general/02-02-2018/politologi-korruptsiya-polezna-dlya-strany-i-naroda).

                Not everyone is impressed, but they do understand why such a book is appearing now.  Andrey Pertsev, a Moscow journalist says the volume is not for the population at large which knows better but rather “for bureaucratic elites, a new caste of the bureaucracy, new, useful corruption and a new order as well.”

                But the most savage criticism came from business analyst Vadim Zhargun who said that the authors try their hand at other “myths” that are widespread.  He lists ten possible titles for new research by Matveychev and Akopyan. Here are three:

·         “Myths about Theft: You aren’t the victim of theft but a passive philanthropist;”

·         “Myths about Murders: Solve the problem of overpopulation with your own hands;” and

·         “Myths about Obscurantism: The theory that the earth is round is a compete mystification.”