STRUCTURAL EFFECTS OF CORRUPTION ON ECONOMIC GROWTH AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT: A REVIEW OF LITERATURE IN LATIN AMERICA

Abstract

This study aims to examine the structural effects of corruption on Gross Domestic Product (GDP), public expenditure, investment, and social development through a focused literature review in the Latin American context. A systematic review methodology with an interpretive approach was employed, based on clearly defined selection criteria and using databases such as SciELO, Dialnet, and Scopus. A total of 23 relevant articles were identified, coded, and thematically classified. The findings reveal that corruption exerts a detrimental impact on economic growth by distorting resource allocation, undermining productive public investment, and weakening social protection systems. Additionally, it leads to institutional inefficiency, erodes public trust, and compromises oversight mechanisms for public spending. While empirical evidence varies across countries, there is a broad consensus that structural corruption acts as a constraint on sustainable development. The study concludes that addressing corruption effectively requires comprehensive reforms aimed at strengthening transparency, internal control systems, and citizen participation. Finally, it acknowledges limitations associated with the databases consulted and recommends broadening the comparative regional scope in future research.