IMO corruption is just a symptom. Everything goes back to one source point: lack of well-educated citizens who can push back without hesitation. Note that the two conditions: well-educated and can push back without hesitation. Missing any of them and the foundation cracks.
Also I wouldn't bother comparing corruption between democracies and authoritarians. I have lived under both and the only thing I see is the common human nature represented in different ways. And I see "lack of well-educated citizens who can push back without hesitation" everywhere.
I guess that's why we are in a world that keeps competing for incompetence.
In Mexico, you either pay the bribe or go to jail on trumped up charges. I don’t see what education level has to do with it.
That's why there are two pieces. You also need to push back. Collectively pushing back, not just individually. That's the only way.
[dead]