PRIVATIZATION IN ARGENTINA - THE IMPLICATIONS FOR CORRUPTION

The article analyzes the privatization program carried out under the C arlos Menem administration in Argentina between 1989 and 1995. It show s how, on many occasions, the divestiture of government-owned assets w as often carried out within a very weak legal framework which, in turn , opened windows of opportunities for corrupt behavior and collusive p ractices involving high ranking government officials and private corpo rations. Based on their findings, the authors stress the crucial role that transparency plays for effective results to take place after gove rnment selloffs. Indeed, the Argentine case shows that there is a stro ng correlation between the legal and regulatory problems that often ar ise in the aftermath of state divestitures and privatizations that hav e been carried out hastily and under a cloud of corruption allegations .