Anti-graft storm propels growth in long run

During my trip to a coal-producing province, I found that officials at a road checkpoint played cards and the loser paid by working extra hours instead of handing over money. Before 2012 it was just the opposite - they quarreled with each other in order to work extra hours.

The reason for their change is simple: in the past they could ask coal truck drivers for bribes, a practice which has been stopped with the implementation of the anti-graft campaign in October 2012.

They are only a few of the officials "discouraged" from "working hard" by the anti-corruption drive. In the past, many officials were busy promoting local GDP growth through programs like realty or polluting industries that made immediate returns, because these programs promised promotion or other rewards for them. However, corruption often happened in the process due to the lack of effective regulation over power. As the pressure upon corruption has increased, many officials have tended to change their highly risky practice and opt for safety first.