Eastern European and former communist countries are well known for their high corruption, weak economies and struggling democracies, the Republic of Moldova being one of the most relevant examples. Written as a master’s dissertation (Policy Analysis Exercise) for Harvard University, this book offers a comprehensive view of the corruption environment present in the Republic of Moldova. Based on field visits, on the ground interviews and incisive analysis, the book goes beyond a surface view of corruption. Instead, it goes deep down to reveal the connections between politics, the criminal underworld and the business sector. Cross-border smuggling takes center stage as it fuels an entire system of corrupt public servants and top politicians.
At the time when it was officially submitted for graduation, this dissertation provided a full range of recommendations for fighting corruption, most of which were never implemented. Published now, four years after it was initially written, this book is more relevant than ever. The recent corruption scandal involving a bank fraud of one billion dollars have shaken the Moldovan society and turned all heads towards the otherwise ignored Republic of Moldova.
