In this paper the analytical framework outlined by James Buchanan and Yong J. Yoon (2000) to explore the symmetric "tragedies of the commons and the anti-commons" is generalized to deal with the study of the relationship between institutions and corruption. A simple game theory model is built to show that corruption produces a "tragedy of the anti-commons" and that it can be discouraged by the introduction of competition among corrupt agents to turn it into a "tragedy of the commons." It is also shown that coordinated corruption or "mafia" behaviour produces a better allocation of resources than uncoordinated coruption and that punishment of corruption based on earnings collected from bribes produces a better allocation of resources than sanctions based on the number of corrupt acts committed
