Anti-Corruption Agencies Are Like Wine: They Improve With Age

Anti-corruption agencies are like wine: the older they get, the better they become. That is the view of Samuel De Jaegere of the International Anti-Corruption Academy, who says dismantling such institutions can erase capabilities built over decades.

Research by the academy’s Global Programme for Measuring Corruption shows that age and independence are closely linked to effectiveness. De Jaegere says artificial intelligence cannot replace human judgment, but intelligent tools could help investigators and prevention officials process growing volumes of data and narrow the pool of cases where corruption may have occurred.

Operational independence remains essential, he says. Anti-corruption agencies must be able to work independently of the executive branch so they can resist political interference. De Jaegere is aware of the Slovenian government’s plan to introduce StKOK through a new law covering specialized bodies responsible for corruption and organized crime.

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Intelligent tools in the hands of investigators or officials working on corruption prevention can help narrow the pool of cases in which corruption might occur.

The central paradox of anti-corruption work is that success can create new pressure. “When you fight corruption, corruption fights back. When agencies become effective, people try to close them, so it is extremely important to preserve and protect the independence of anti-corruption institutions,” De Jaegere says.

Slovenia’s Commission for the Prevention of Corruption has a budget of just over €3 million, equal to about 0.02% of the state budget. The global average is 0.03%, while international experts recommend agencies receive about 0.1% or even 0.2% of national budgets. Global data show that citizens spend about $1.50 per year per person on anti-corruption agencies, compared with roughly $300 on military spending. De Jaegere says greater investment in the fight against corruption would benefit every country, including Slovenia.

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When you fight corruption, corruption fights back. When agencies become effective, people try to close them, so it is extremely important to preserve and protect the independence of anti-corruption institutions.