Institutional Effectiveness of Anti-Corruption Agencies in Thailand: A Comparative Study of Singapore and Hong Kong
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.70730/tureview.v29i1.241487Keywords:
Institutional Effectiveness, Corruption, Anti-Corruption AgencyAbstract
Despite the establishment of multiple anti-corruption agencies, Thailand continues to experience persistent corruption, particularly in the public sector, raising critical concerns about the institutional effectiveness of its anti-corruption framework. This study employs a qualitative comparative analysis of anti-corruption agencies in Thailand, Singapore, and Hong Kong, aiming to identify institutional factors that account for their differential success in combating corruption. The research utilizes data sourced from official reports addressing legal mandates, institutional autonomy, and resource allocation to systematically assess key determinants of agency effectiveness. Findings reveal that Singapore’s CPIB and Hong Kong’s ICAC consistently outperform Thailand’s NACC and PACC, as reflected by superior rankings in international anticorruption indices and lower corruption prevalence. The superior institutional effectiveness of CPIB and ICAC is attributed to three principal factors. First, the CPIB and ICAC operate under broad legal mandates encompassing public and private sectors, reinforced by stringent penalties, whereas the NACC and PACC maintain narrower mandates focused predominantly on publicsector corruption and impose comparatively lenient sanctions. Second, the CPIB and ICAC benefit from greater institutional independence, enabling operational autonomy with minimal political interference, while Thailand’s agencies encounter significant constraints. Third, the CPIB and ICAC exhibit enhanced operational capacity characterized by sufficient resource allocation and manageable caseloads, in contrast to the resource shortages and excessive workloads facing the NACC. To strengthen Thailand’s anti-corruption institutions, this study recommends expanding agency jurisdiction, intensifying legal penalties, reinforcing institutional independence, and addressing resource deficiencies.
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