Engage the Speaker Session for “C.S. Lewis, Law, and Liberty” (AU2021). Original Lecture description below.

As Christians, we all agree corruption is bad. As citizens, we also agree corrupt behaviors must be punished by law. However, there are differences in how corrupt behaviors are perceived in different societies around the world, as well as in how effectively perpetrators are actually punished in every country – if punished at all. How does corruption impact on the economic development of each country? Are countries where corruption is widespread poorer than countries where even small bribes are severely punished? If so, why? Besides, are big government and a large number of laws good ways to fight corruption? On the other hand, are they actually sources of bad incentives and stimuli of corrupt behaviors?