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The Development Channel highlights big debates, promising approaches, and new research and thinkers addressing opportunity and exclusion in the global economy.

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Mossack Fonseca law firm sign is pictured in Panama City, April 4, 2016.
Mossack Fonseca law firm sign is pictured in Panama City, April 4, 2016. Carlos Jasso/Reuters
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Corruption Brief Series: How Anonymous Shell Companies Finance Insurgents, Criminals, and Dictators

by Shannon K. O'Neil September 13, 2017

The latest paper in the Corruption Brief series from the Civil Society, Markets, and Democracy program at the Council on Foreign Relations was published this month. In the brief, Dr. Jodi Vittori, senior policy advisor at Global Witness, addresses the myriad problems posed by anonymous shell companies – corporate entities with few or no employees and no substantive business, which offer a convenient way to privately move money through the international financial system. Read More

Featured

Guatemala

Lessons From Guatemala’s Commission Against Impunity
What other countries can learn from CICIG’s first decade.

Report by Matthew M. Taylor June 19, 2017 Civil Society, Markets, and Democracy Program

Asia

Fighting Bangladesh’s Sweatshops
In late December, tens of thousands of Bangladeshi garment workers went on strike, shutting down over fifty factories making fast-fashion clothes for international brands including Gap, H&M, and Zara…

Blog Post by Shannon K. O'Neil January 18, 2017 Development Channel

Global

A Conversation with Senator Ben Cardin: Anticorruption in U.S. Foreign Policy under the Trump Administration

Play
Senator Ben Cardin discusses corruption's effect on economic and social inequalities, investment, development, and democratic institutions.

Event with Benjamin L. Cardin and Shannon K. O'Neil April 6, 2017

Americas

This Week in Markets and Democracy: Asian Trade Openness, Palm Oil Abuses, Global Magnitsky
Trade Rules Favor Asia, Not the United States Asia’s rise in the global trading system continues. Recent World Economic Forum data shows that the ten Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) m…

Blog Post by Shannon K. O'Neil December 16, 2016 Development Channel

United States

Mexico’s Corrupt Governors
Last June, Mexico elected new governors in twelve of its thirty-one states. As millions of voters went to the urns, corruption was a top concern (along with insecurity). Eight states saw the incumben…

Blog Post by Shannon K. O'Neil October 11, 2016 Latin America’s Moment

Human Rights

Beyond Supply Chain Transparency Laws
Global trade and the supply chains that support it are undergoing a period of profound change. Supply chains face threats including a resurgence of protectionism, climate change, decaying infrastruct…

Blog Post by Guest Blogger for Shannon K. O'Neil September 22, 2016 Development Channel

International Organizations

Who Governs Global Value Chains?
Global trade and the supply chains that support it are undergoing a period of profound change. Supply chains face threats including a resurgence of protectionism, climate change, decaying infrastruct…

Blog Post by Guest Blogger for Shannon K. O'Neil August 16, 2016 Development Channel

Americas

A Game of Inches: The Uncertain Fight Against Corruption in Latin America
Harvard’s inimitable Matthew Stephenson this week published a thought-provoking blog post comparing anticorruption efforts in Asia and Latin America. Crudely summarizing Stephenson’s argument, a few …

Blog Post by Matthew M. Taylor August 10, 2016 Development Channel

Americas
The Labor Rights and Business Case for Factory Audits and Advising
Global trade and the supply chains that support it are undergoing a period of profound change. Supply chains face threats including a resurgence of protectionism, climate change, decaying infrastruct…
Blog Post by Guest Blogger for Shannon K. O'Neil December 2, 2016 Development Channel
Development
SDG 16 and the Corruption Measurement Challenge
Emerging Voices highlights new research, thinking, and approaches to development challenges from contributing scholars and practitioners. This post is from Niklas Kossow, communications officer for t…
Blog Post by Guest Blogger for Shannon K. O'Neil November 29, 2016 Development Channel
Americas
This Week in Markets and Democracy: Duterte Targets Critic, China’s Trade Ambitions, FCPA Uncertainty
Philippines’ Duterte Tries to Take Down Critic Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte brooks no dissent. His latest backlash is against one of his most outspoken critics, Senator Leila de Lima. After…
Blog Post by Shannon K. O'Neil November 18, 2016 Development Channel
  • Human Rights
    Unfinished Business: Improving Labor Standards in Global Supply Chains
    Global trade and the supply chains that support it are undergoing a period of profound change. Supply chains face threats including a resurgence of protectionism, climate change, decaying infrastruct…
    Blog Post by Guest Blogger for Shannon K. O'Neil November 17, 2016 Development Channel
  • Emerging Markets
    This Week in Markets and Democracy: New French Anticorruption Law, More Panama Papers Fallout, India’s Big Currency Ban
    France’s Anticorruption Reforms After years of criticism for failing to prosecute foreign bribery, France adopted a new anticorruption law that will force companies doing business on its soil to tak…
    Blog Post by Shannon K. O'Neil November 11, 2016 Development Channel