One common belief about fascist governments is that they are somehow less corrupt that other forms of government. It has been also claimed, that having direct control of a dictator cuts out a lot of red tape, so that big projects (like dams, bridges, etc.) get built faster and with less corruption.
Plus, fascist regimes are quick to resort to rather hard punishments-so (perhaps) these regimes were able to make things happen?
But in reading about the history of Mussolini’s regime, it seems that corruption was widespread-and this went on to the detriment of the armed forces (troops in Greece found that their cardboard-soled shoes fell apart, Italian tanks broke down regularly, and the navy’s ships had all kind of flaws.
Was Mussolini’s government worse than average in the corruption arena?
This is only answering your aside comment and not your actual Q, but Fascist Germany had tons of red tape. Hitler set up competing redundant agencies so that no one could control any one segment of society except him. (In addition to some of the directors of these agencies amassing large personal fortunes, but I’m not sure if this was greater or lower than average corruption.)
I think fascism just centralizes the corruption. The fascists make sure that they hold all the power, so as long as you make a deal with the fascists, you don’t have to worry about anyone else interfering. Mussolini’s regime, for example, supressed the Mafia so you didn’t have to make pay-offs to the local gangsters anymore. But you probably had to make a payment to the local fascist.
And Hitler himself used his political power to become a wealthy man.
Hitler’s image appeared on things like postage stamps. Well, that didn’t come free. Hitler owned his image and the German government had to pay him a royalty for its use.
That reminds me of a more classic case of corruption in Nazi Germany: the “voluntary” contributions to the Nazi party, which were almost as high as peoples actual taxes. If your boss was getting pressure for a big contribution and didn’t think you were kicking in enough, he could hold your work papers hostage and without them you couldn’t get a job anywhere.
“A police state is where the criminals are in charge.” - Robert Harris, Fatherland