Dissertation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 9250 words

Dissertation - Essay Example each of the variables is numeric in nature, most part of the findings involved the use of tables and graphs even though the subjective descriptive analysis of the findings maintained the study’s qualitative nature. Data was collected by first measuring the corruption perception index of Spain. This gave an overall idea of the level of corruption in the countries. The corruption perception index was then compared to each of the economic variables, which also serve as predictors of economic downturn. Results from the study have confirmed that corruption has a negative impact on two of the variables namely GDP growth rate and household income. The various dynamics associated with the occurrence of corruption makes it the effect of corruption on the economy very varying. On the whole, it can be said that the more widespread cases of corruption within a given economy is, the larger the effect that will be felt. It is against this background that economists have for long sought to establish the relationship that exists between corruption and economic progress. As far as the relationship between corruption and economic progress is concerned, opinions remain largely divided in both theory and principle. Whereas some see a possible coexistence between corruption and development (Kang 59), other school of thought argues that corruption and development cannot coexist and that corruption is the biggest obstacle to economic development of a country (Keefer and Knack79). There are actually some extremist economists who posit that not only does corruption act as an obstacle to economic development but that corruption could be a key i ssue leading to economic downturn. Knowing that economic downturn is a period of business cycle contraction and slowdown in economic activity (Werlin 782), one would see corruption as a very serious canker with the worse consequential economic effects. But until there is some level of empirical research that justifies the relationship between