Accident Quote by Abhijit Banerjee
“Corruption is a huge problem and the poor and the powerless are often its most egregious victims. But it is not an accident that the most effective bureaucracies in the world rely much more on internal controls rather than on independent ombudsmen.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Remarks on Governance, World Bank Conference, 2019
Corruption harms the vulnerable; strong internal controls reduce reliance on external oversight.
In simple terms: Corruption hurts the poor; internal controls help.
Key Takeaway
Strengthen internal oversight.
Themes
corruption
inequality
governance
bureaucracy
Mood
concerned
critical
Type
analytical
policy
When to use this quote
- Government agencies
- NGOs
- public procurement
- anti‑corruption units
Key Concepts
Public policy
institutional design
accountability
Questions to Reflect On
- How can internal controls be made transparent?
- What role should ombudsmen play?
A Different Perspective
Internal controls can be bypassed without transparent external checks.
