Friends, It looks like this is a worldwide phenomenon. On our part in Kenya, many students and graduates of Kenya universities earn pretty well from writing papers for folks worldwide. I am not sure whether anyone has formally studied this. According to the attached document (it's long) an American professor laments the change in attitude towards cheating. She argues that, while in the past people could be ashamed of being caught cheating and that folks were proud of the 'sweat of their labour' that is no longer the case. In my view, cheating happens because all around us people are cheating and (apparently) getting ahead of others; even those who get caught manage to game the system and get away with it. It is happening everywhere: in homes, churches, schools, government, private sector, etc. ... Name it! Gaming the system and beating it is a triumph for many! Second, in the old days, some taboos limited people's will to act beyond certain limits. A person could, for instance, fear that a curse might befall them! ... No more: people are cheating, getting ahead and no curse seems to come their way! All this has eroded the work ethic where folks could be proud that 'the sweat of their labour' has made them attain success. So just because someone works hard, has integrity and 'gives to Caesar what belongs to Caesar' does not underlie the person's status in that society. Thieves and scoundrels (and just because they are loaded with mbesha, regardless of how it was earned) seem to win! I am not sure what, as a society, we should do to restore meritocracy because this is the surest way for society to maximize its human capital potential. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Matunda Nyanchama, PhD, CISSP; Director & Managing Consultant, mnyanchama@aganoconsulting.com<mailto:mnyanchama@aganoconsulting.com>; Phone: +254 101 915 260 Agano Consulting Inc.; www.aganoconsulting.com<http://www.aganoconsulting.com/>; Twitter: nmatunda; <http://twitter.com/#%21/nmatunda> Skype: okiambe ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Manage your ICT risks! We are the experts you need! The trusted partners you deserve! Call: +254 101 915 260 (Kenya) or info@aganoconsulting.com<mailto:info@aganoconsulting.com> Licensed by the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA)