Safe and reliable physical structures are essential to a thriving economy and an efficient society. Yet corrupt practices in the construction process abound, and honest practitioners are discouraged from entering the market by prohibitive bribery and kickback costs. These increased costs divert revenue from using higher quality materials to build safe structures, while also hindering future projects. Corruption in the global construction industry is a huge economic burden, and has a major impact on least developed countries where money is diverted from projects that are intended to provide basic infrastructure such as roads, electricity, water supply, housing, hospitals etc. Clearly written, well-publicized, and effectively enforced laws and safety codes will help curtail illegal practices like bribery and kickbacks, allowing the construction market to become a more open and competitive place and increasing reliability and security of physical infrastructures.

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