Journal of Business & Economic Policy

Does EU Anti-Corruption Regulation Work: The Case of Pharmaceutical Industry
Alex Almici Ph.D.

Abstract
Corruption in the pharmaceutical industry has become a hot topic, cause the increasing scandals recorded by worldwide media. Pharmaceutical sector is characterised by many vulnerabilities to corruption that can lead – in the worst case scenario – to human death. Policy-makers have a relevant role in combating corrupt practices, by introducing effective measures against this widespread phenomenon. This study aims at verifying the European regulation’s contribution in combating corruption occurring in the pharmaceutical sector; in this regard, the main results underline some limits of regulation as well as some strength factors. Limits mainly refer to: provisions’ low specificity; the frequent provisions ‘general content; the great focus on specific types of corruption by neglecting the other ones; the relevant presence of voluntary regulation implying potential risk of no-compliance. The most relevant strength factors relate to the preventive policy-makers approach and to the high feasibility of the main part of regulation’s measures.

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