Corruzione, sviluppo e democrazia: Quando la crescita è senza sviluppo

This article primary concerns the analysis of the conditions which determine situations of growth without development: processes of quantitative increment of the resources without a complete promotion of the human being. This phenomenon, in Africa as well as in other countries, is caused by at least three factors: wealth distribution, availability of institutional models in the use of the surplus, and corruption. The last one, in particular, is examined referring to Polanyi’s integration models between economy and society: reciprocity, redistribution and market exchange. As a result, corruption seems being determined by the rapid transition from integration models based on reciprocity and redistribution, towards models of market exchange. Therefore, while the culture is still based on reciprocity and redistribution the economic structure follows market logics that weaken the normative contest, and determine opportunistic behaviours, individualism and therefore corruption.