Matrix on Point: Corruption in America

Corruption is a persistent challenge in America, shaping institutions, influencing policy, and eroding public trust. Understanding its roots, mechanisms, and consequences is essential for assessing the health of democratic governance. On February 3, 2026, Social Science Matrix brought together leading scholars from business, political science, and law to examine the many facets of corruption in the United States and the ways it is identified, constrained, and addressed. Co-sponsored by the UC Berkeley Departments of Economics and Political Science, this Matrix on Point panel featured Sarah Anzia, Chancellor's Professor of Public Policy and Political Science at UC Berkeley, Erwin Chemerinsky, Jesse H. Chopper Distinguished Professor of Law and Dean of the UC Berkeley Law School, and Ernesto Dal Bó, Phillips Girgich Professor of Business at the UC Berkeley Haas School. Sean Gailmard, Herman Royer Professor of Political Economy, moderated. A transcript of this podcast is available at https://matrix.berkeley.edu/research-article/corruption-in-america