CORRUPTION, POVERTY AND DEVELOPMENT: THE CASE OF BRAZIL

Abstract This paper explores the relationship between corruption, poverty, and development in Brazil, a country with significant economic potential yet plagued by systemic corruption and widespread poverty. Corruption affects resource allocation, impeding development and exacerbating poverty, though its consequences differ across countries. Brazil, which ranks high on the global corruption perception scale, is the focus of this study. Using data from 1990 to 2023, we analyzed the impact of variables such as gross domestic product (GDP), the Human Development Index (HDI), and the Gini Index on corruption. Trend analysis, correlation, and regression techniques were applied. The results reveal that while perceived corruption and HDI increased over this period, other variables such as poverty and inequality declined. The study finds that only HDI significantly impacts the rise of corruption in Brazil. Notably, from 2007 to 2023, both HDI and GDP per capita influenced corruption. These findings suggest that factors driving corruption in Brazil shift over time. Policy recommendations include focusing on improving HDI to mitigate corruption.