Corruption and the Smallholder : A Review of Current Literature and Research

Corruption is a hot topic of academic and public policy research. Specifically, corruption is often characterized as directly impacting the economies of developing countries: “Corruption undermines governance, economic growth, and, ultimately, the stability of countries and regions” (Spector, 2005). Of particular concern are areas of the world, such as Sub-Saharan Africa, where corruption is perceived to be rampant and where smallholders form the backbone of the economy. This paper will address the current research and literature on corruption with a specific focus on the impact of corruption on the smallholder.