Professional Development
Programs for Parliamentarians
and their Staff:
Curbing Corruption
What is Corruption?
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The abuse of public office for private gain:
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Official accepts, solicits, or extorts a bribe
Agents give bribes to avoid public policies, for
competitive advantage & profit.
Patronage
Nepotism
Theft or diversion of state assets or revenue.
Who is responsible for
Corruption?
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People in government positions,
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Positions of leadership in the private sector,
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Civil Society Leaders
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Ordinary citizens
Public Corruption occurs
when…
A government official benefits at the expense
of ordinary citizens.
Two Manners of Public
Corruption
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Officials embezzle
public money
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Tax dollars
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Development aid
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Public profit making
money
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Public systems are
dysfunctional
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Citizens forced to
deliver bribes or
compromise to receive
public goods or
services.
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No services.
Why Public Corruption Matters

Citizens lose right to public services without
bribes
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Services are slowed
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Many jobs cannot be fulfilled
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Economic progress stalled & poverty
continues
Private Corruption
Who?
Between individuals in private sector
What?
Organized crime, a $20 tip to get the best table
in a restaurant.
Primary Classifications of
Corruption
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Bribery
Nepotism
Embezzlement
Fraud
Clientelism
Rent-seeking
Extortion
Bribery
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Money or favor to influence a public official
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Buy political favors, escape taxes,
environmental regulations, monopolies, &
licenses
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Informal taxation
Nepotism
Relatives or close friends of officials are
favored for positions in which they hold
decision-making authority.
Clientelism
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Characterized by "patron-client" relationships
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“Patrons” = people of power
“Clients” = powerless, often poor
Patrons promise clients benefits in exchange for votes
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Jobs
Protection
infrastructure.
Exploit poor or disenfranchised
Politicians fail to deliver on their promises.
Embezzelment
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Public officials steal money or government
property
Employees steal from employers
Public officials misappropriate resources,
including goods, meant for public services
Forging receipts, using government
property or personnel for unofficial use.
Fraud
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A person cheats another through deceit
Information is distorted through
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False advertising
Identity theft
Counterfeiting and racketeering
Smuggling
Official who manipulates info for personal
profit
Fraud in the Public Domain
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Government officials play role in activities:
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Deposit public money in personal accounts
Liquidate banks to steal from people
Print large amounts of money through central bank to
create false impression of strong economy
Receive private loans that will never be paid back
Issue falsified certificates, e.g. country of origin,
commercial goods
Enable counterfeit goods to be bought & sold
Extortion
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Person coerces another to pay for an action
through money, goods, or favors
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In government, agencies do not provide
services quickly so people offer money for
more rapid service delivery
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Payers receive preferential treatment =
service not really public
Rent-seeking
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Manipulating economic environment, rather than
improving economy
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Reallocating money without benefiting all stakeholders
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Seeking monopoly privileges
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Redistributing wealth through tax burden or government
spending
Grand Corruption
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Substantial money
High-level officials
Power exploited for large bribes from
corporations
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contract scams
embezzle from treasury
legislation for personal favor
Large projects:
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building of roads, hospitals, etc.
Petty Corruption
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Involves smaller sums and junior officials.
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Faced by citizens and corrupt public officials
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health care
Education
paying taxes
obtaining licenses
The Costs of Corruption
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Increased poverty
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Costs of goods &
services
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Changed social
norms
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Higher national debt
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Weakens institutions
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Reduces resources
for social programs
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Environmental
degradation
Economic impact
Good Governance
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Rule of law
Accountability
Responsiveness
Transparency
Efficiency
Causes for Corruption
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Desire for unfair
advantage
Lack of punitive
measures
Lack of transparency
Poor incentive
structures
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Lawless & overregulated govts
Excessive
government control
When officials resist
policies
Dysfunctional
systems
Corruption in Numbers:
The Indicators
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Voice & Accountability
Political Stability and Absence of Violence
Government Effectiveness
Regulatory Quality
Rule of Law
Control of Corruption
Corruption in Numbers:
Diagnostic Surveys
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Multi-pronged, separate surveys of users of
public services
Experience-based questions;
Broad governance & service delivery
conceptual framework;
Rigorous technical specifications at the
implementation stage.
Corruption in Numbers:
Perception Surveys
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Examines a problem across several countries
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Shows where corruption problems are higher
and lower around the world.
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Transparency International’s corruption
perception index
Corruption in Numbers: Data
Collection Methods
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Face-to-face interview
Computer assisted Personal Interviewing
Telephone
Computer assisted telephone interviewing
Mail Survey
Hand delivered questionnaire
Electronic Data Reporting
Electronic Data Reporting via the Internet
Corruption in Numbers: Stages
to Diagnosis
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Preparation
Promote Partnership
Development
Fieldwork
Analysis
Dissemination
How to Increase Civil Society’s
Role in Good Governance
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Encourage local political, economic, social
and cultural participation
Keep important documents public
Develop public skills to utilize, access, &
interpret information
Encourage opportunities for dialogue
Citizen report cards
Improving Civil Society Voice
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Public hearings
Public meetings
Participatory planning committees
Focus groups
Surveys
Citizen advisory groups, etc.
Civil Society Organizations
(CSOs)
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What?
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Citizen groups
Nongovernmental
organizations
Trade unions
Business associations
Think tanks
Academia
Religious organizations
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How?
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Build coalitions
between CSOs &
government
Open channels to
demand accountability
The Media & Corruption: A
Mouthpiece for all
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Communicate rights to people
Inform about political items up for vote,
Communicate needs of people
Make demands of CSOs
Communicate election time & details
Research public official track record
Limitations of the Media: Libel
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Criminal libel: Journalist & media outlet
accused of publishing lies that threaten
national stability.
Prison for journalist & maybe editors, owners
Fines
The Media & Corruption:
Licensing
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A method for controlling media
media must obtain a license from government
to operate.
when media publish news about corruption,
license may be revoked.
An Enabling Environment for
the Media to fight Corruption
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Legal framework
Regulatory framework
Policy framework
Government makes information available
Information on policies, rules, regulations,
and government procedures
The Media & the Law
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Access to information laws:
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Gives right to request & receive info from
government
Protects media with evidence of statements
Article 19, Universal Declaration of Human
Rights
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“Right to freedom of opinion & expression
includes freedom to seek, receive, & impart
information & ideas through any media &
regardless of frontiers.”
Successful Legislative
Structure to Protect Media
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Access to information
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Freedom of Information Laws (FOI)
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Access should be affordable.
Political Commitment to
Anticorruption
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Economic reform
Institutional
arrangements
Administrative
reforms promoting
incentives
Awareness raising
campaigns
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Public spending
patterns,
Development of an
ACC
Citizen involvement
Well functioning
parliament
Citizen Involvement
Anticorruption Commissions
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Political bodies that educate, legislate, &
punish acts of corruption.
Must be independent
Have clear reporting hierarchy
Oversight committee
Single agency or multiple agency approach
Role of Parliament in Curbing
Corruption
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Prevent corruption in parliament
Create laws for good governance
Incentivize public officials for transparency &
accountability.
Carry out oversight responsibilities
Improve financial control
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Specialized Agencies - Supreme Audit Institutions
Properly represent constituency
Corruption in Political Parties
and Parliament
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Political party financing
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Codes of conduct for parliamentarians
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Ethical regimes
Inter-parliamentary Links
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Global Organization of Parliamentarians Against
Corruption (GOPAC)
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Parliamentary Network on World Bank (PnoWB)
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European Parliament
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Commonwealth Parliamentary Association.