Conclusion – building bridges
In the context of money laundering controls, the challenge for those who deal with the
stock market is to ensure that bridges are constructed between the two vertical control
columns of measures for anti-money laundering and the financing of terrorism on the
one hand and good corporate governance norms on the other. These should not be seen
Anti-money
laundering
efforts
55as parallel streams that never meet; each must reinforce and supplement the other and
the collective synergy that is thus generated should yield a bumper crop of good
results. A culture of good corporate governance needs to be fostered not only for the
sake of giving effect to a concept currently in vogue, but also because of society’s
commitment to minimise crime and terror and prevent dirty money being laundered
through the stock market. From the above discussion, it is evident that good
governance norms and practices can influence the further development and refinement
of anti-money laundering and terrorist financing regimes and their effective
implementation. Likewise, compliance with anti-money laundering and terrorist
financing regimes can help create an environment conducive to the achievement of
good governance norms and practices.
The extent to which anti-money laundering efforts and good governance norms and
practices have a mutually reinforcing effect will depend, however, on a number of
variables. It cannot be gainsaid that money laundering and terrorist financing can
never be eliminated altogether; even a “zero tolerance” policy will not achieve the
purpose. Good governance norms and practices, once established, will represent
benchmark standards but there will be times when, due to political and other changes,
practices will fall below the required standards. Nevertheless, through incremental
changes most societies should see an overall improvement in corporate and public
behaviour and attitudes.
In endeavouring to improve the quality of life in all its dimensions, anti-money
laundering efforts and good governance norms and practices need to work in tandem
as instruments of economic and social policy change. The potential for this
requirement to be met – and the means of facilitating it – is an urgent issue for future
qualitative research. It is hoped that the review of the main issues presented here will
point researchers in the direction of the most pertinent empirical questions, and that
the risk assessment matrix provided will be helpful in this regard.