Evidence suggests it is a symptom of deep institutional weaknesses. Evidence supports a link between strong civil society and effective strategies for addressing corruption. Evidence from transition economies suggests that the capture of state policies and laws by corporate interests is associated with an absence of full civil liberties. There is also a significant link between corruption and a weak rule of law. Corruption is higher in countries with a high degree of state ownership in the economy, excessive business regulation and taxes, arbitrary application of regulations and trade restrictions.
Monopolized economies tend to have more corruption.
Fiscal decentralization may help to control it. Civil-service professionalism, which includes training, hiring and promotion systems, is also associated with less corruption. Contrary to conventional wisdom, the evidence is often ambiguous that low civil service pay causes corrupt behavior. Better public-sector salaries on their own may not explain a significant reduction in corruption. For example, Ecuadorian public-sector agencies that offer better pay to employees do not have a lower incidence of corruption.