Dissertation Defense of Chandra Tiwari
Wednesday, April 16, 2025
2:00 p.m.
BAL 7009
DRAINING DEVELOPMENT: THE CHANGING NATURE OF CORRUPTION IN
POST-INDEPENDENCE INDIA
Dissertation Abstract: The economic growth of emerging economies, particularly India stands at a crossroads as the fight against corruption intensifies. Corruption poses a significant threat to the overall development of a country necessitating convergence of technological advances with national and global initiatives to combat the issue. Despite several ongoing efforts taken by the international bodies to enforce regulations, challenges persist in curbing this issue due to the fundamental behavioral and structural factors at play. This dissertation investigates the dynamic evolution of corruption within a cash-based economy, period of trade openness and the contemporary digitalized age in India through comparative case study. Primarily focusing on India and drawing insights spanning these historical times, this research examines the intricate interplay between the various economic, political, cultural, and technological factors and corruption that impede the holistic development of the country. By integrating a multifaceted literature, this study analyzes the causal relationship between development and corruption, identifying the paradoxical ways in which technological improvements both promote national development and provide fertile grounds to corruption. This research reveals that while digitalization aims to promote transparency and reduce human intervention, it may inadvertently create new opportunities for corruption when interacting with existing institutional weaknesses, political reforms and cultural norms. The findings demonstrate valuable insights on the interplay between the independent variables that lead to transformation and resilience of corruption. By comprehending the changing nature of corruption in different time periods, the findings provide keys to combat corruption with the existing technological advancements and promote solutions for sustainable growth in India and various emerging worldwide economies.
Committee Members:
Dr. Francis Adams (Chair)
Dr. Jesse Richman
Dr. David Selover