Controlling the Spread of Corruption through Social Media A Mathematical Modelling Approach
In this paper, corruption is treated as an infection that spreads through social interactions. We developed and analyzed a new mathematical model of corruption in a population with constant recruitment rate, incorporating standard incidence rate, effort rate against corruption andeffect of the embarrassment faced by corrupt individuals due tosocial media freedom, which makes some corrupt individuals temporarily quit corruption. The effective reproduction number and its values are computed using four different control strategies. Results showed that if at least 40% of the corrupt individuals are embarrassed on social media, corruption can be significantly controlled. This may not be a short time effect but will take years to be achieved. A feasible solution to the control of corruption is suggested, i.e a 50% coverage rate of each ofeffort rate against corruption, social media freedom, and embarrassing corrupt individuals on social media. These effects are sizable making them effective tools against corruption.