SDG 1 and Corruption: No Poverty

Achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 1 requires not only sustained economic growth and robust social protection systems but also a concerted effort to combat corruption, which remains a critical barrier to poverty reduction. This paper examines the multifaceted ways in which corruption undermines poverty alleviation efforts—by distorting public resource allocation, weakening institutions, eroding public trust, and reducing government capacity to mobilize domestic resources, particularly through taxation. The paper then explores strategies for addressing corruption, including enhancing fiscal transparency, strengthening anti-corruption legislation, improving public financial management, and leveraging digital technologies. Ultimately, it argues that tackling corruption is essential for creating the fiscal and institutional foundations necessary for achieving SDG 1 and promoting inclusive and sustainable development.

Forthcoming in Corruption and the Sustainable Development Goals, edited by R. Gillanders and C.K. Jha, Routledge.