FCPAméricas Blog
The FCPA “Elevator Pitch”: Selling Anti-Corruption Compliance to Latin American Executives
6.26.2014
In Latin America, informal conversations might be the most effective way to talk to executives about anti-corruption compliance. I have given a lot of presentations in boardrooms, executive suites, and at management conferences in the region. Those communications are useful, but I find that I make the most headway moving anti-corruption up a manager’s priority list during less-charged conversations at cocktail parties, in airport lounges, or at the occasional birthday gathering.
This makes sense – addressing highly sensitive issues like corruption in formal settings can feel risky and be off-putting. Who wants to publicly acknowledge that one of their peers might be paying bribes? Casual settings are more conducive to sensitive, one-o... Read more
Corruption, Crisis, and Reform: the Example of Ukraine
6.20.2014
The following guest post is from William Buschur, a law student at the University of South Carolina School of Law. The post is about Ukraine – a country outside of FCPAmerica’s usual Latin American beat. But Ukraine provides a trenchant example for Latin American countries, both in terms of the impact of corruption as a “revolutionary” concern, the anticorruption reforms undertaken by the new government, and the role of civil society.
For months, the world has been transfixed by the events unfolding in Ukraine, a country torn between its Soviet past and European future. Corruption has been a significant element of that conflict – Ukraine inherited a governmental corruption problem upon its independence in 1991 that it never addressed. Instead, officials have been free to embezzle state funds for the enrichmen... Read more
“Don’t Bribe for Me, Argentina”: Corruption risks on the Río de la Plata
6.17.2014
When I was working in Argentina in the late 1990s, I remember images of then-President Carlos Menem driving a red Ferrari. In response to criticism, he said, “I am going to leave this car as property of the nation. But meanwhile I shall use it myself.”
Since that time, I have continued to work on anti-corruption matters involving the country. Based on my experiences there, here are some common risks I have seen over the years.
Customs. Argentina has a bad reputation for corruption among its customs officials. In the 2012 Latin America Corruption Survey, 90% of respondents with e... Read more
