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In this chapter, we contextualize and discuss the issue of defining corruption, endorsing a definition that focuses on the abuse of power. We also discuss how limiting the scope of corruption to the public sector contradicts the understanding that is common in the public and also in the economic science. Furthermore, we show how policies that are based on a concept of corruption that narrowly ascribes the phenomenon to the public sector , can reach simplistic conclusions such as that the extent of the public sector is invariably positively correlated with the occurrence of corruption. Such conclusions might drive policies that cannot satisfactorily address the problem of corruption, are conceptually flawed and are not backed by empirical analysis that enquired into the relation between the public sector and corruption. In this context, we also scrutinize …