This book has been about money politics in Korea and the Philippines. Money politics has been extensive, and consequential, in both countries. Although I have not focused on economic development, this book's argument leads to a natural question: why was there growth in Korea but not the Philippines? If both Korea and the Philippines were characterized by extensive political meddling into economic affairs, if influence peddling led to economic decisions made for political reasons, and if in both countries personal relationships mattered more than individual competence, then why did Korea grow so spectacularly whereas the Philippines did not? Although development is an entirely different dependent variable than money politics, it is fitting that this book concludes with a discussion of how the issues of corruption and development might relate to one another.

Money politics has always been a central aspect of the pattern of Korean and Philippine politics, and this study has shown that we cannot assume benevolence on the part of the state.