What is Corruption?

Learn about What is Corruption, including Corruption Definition, various Types of Corruption, and effective Steps to Control Corruption and How to Control Corruption.

The Corruption Definition varies according to context, but always involves an abuse of power. The abuse can come in many forms, and is defined by the observer’s perspective, since there are different types of corruption, like the ones that are deliberate and others that are less so; there are acts that are considered illegal, immoral or both; and there are cases where there is no consensus about whether an act is corrupt or not. Corruption means different things in the private sector than it does in government, which makes an analysis of corruption’s causes and consequences very challenging.

What is Corruption?

Corruption, as defined by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), is the abuse of entrusted power for private gain. There are four types of corruption outlined by the UNODC: 

1. Gaining Favor,
2. Accepting Bribes,
3. Misappropriating Property or Authority
4. Breaching Public Trust.

Corruption can have devastating impacts on society at both an individual level and a national level.

Corruption Definition

• Misuse of power for private gain.
• Acts that undermine public interest for personal or group benefit.

What is the Impact of Corruption?

Corruption is a huge problem in many countries. It can lead to an unfair distribution of wealth, social inequality, environmental degradation, poor public health, poor public education, and other negative effects. Corruption also leads to a decrease in the accountability of government officials as they are able to use their power for personal gain without being punished. This makes it difficult for citizens to trust the government or participate in their democracy. Corruption is exacerbated by poverty as people are more likely to accept bribes when they are struggling financially. It has been argued that governments should adopt anti-corruption policies that discourage bribery through strict enforcement of existing laws. However, these policies may not be effective because there is often low political will to enforce such laws and punishments are often inadequate to deter bribery.

Therefore, some argue that developing strong institutions with strong integrity mechanisms (e.g., audits) would be better way to control corruption than relying on law enforcement alone. Corruption is a major contributor to global poverty. Research estimates that 10% of developing countries’ gross domestic product per year, which equates to over $1 trillion annually, is lost due to bribery and other types of corruption. Bribery alone costs the world $1 trillion per year. The IMF estimates that the cost of all types of government malfeasance, including fraud, embezzlement, etc., is at least 5% of GDP in the poorest countries.

How to Control Corruption?

Corruption is widespread in today’s society. The prevalence of bribery, fraud, theft, and other dishonest actions makes it hard to provide a legitimate service that isn’t affected by these vices. However, there are ways to minimize the cost of doing business without succumbing to corrupt behavior. Transparency International (TI) helps businesses fight corruption through its Integrity Pacts. TI also provides support for high-risk situations like anti-corruption audits and investigations. These services help to ensure employees don’t engage in corrupt behaviors, as well as work with customers to ensure they’re not being taken advantage of. Other organizations like the Association for Corporate Growth and World Economic Forum are providing workshops on how businesses can avoid getting caught up in this scourge on society.

Types of Corruption

There are a number of different ways to categorize types of corrupt practices. These six categories include the misuse of public funds, bribery, cronyism, favoritism, nepotism, and sabotage. 

• Misuse of public money is when politicians use their power to steal money that they should be spending on their constituents. 
• Bribery is defined as giving something such as money or gifts in order to influence someone’s actions with an intent to either covertly extract information or blatantly gain favors. 
• Cronyism is often referred to as cozy relationships between businesspeople and government officials.
• Favoritism can take many forms but most commonly it refers to using your position for personal benefit. 
• Nepotism is when you give someone preferential treatment based on family relationships instead of merit. 
• Sabotage can take many forms, but one example would be wasting resources for malicious purposes.

Civil Society Approaches to Anti-Corruption

A report in 2000 by the United Nations Development Programme states that the relationships between various actors in society (government, civil society, media, business) are important to anti-corruption efforts. One approach to promoting this healthy social dialogue is through training programs aimed at increasing public knowledge of government accountability and encouraging citizens to demand it. Additionally, many NGOs work on technical projects as well as advocacy campaigns that help increase transparency in government decision-making.

Some of the Main Causes of Corruption

1. Corruption is caused by Poverty or Lack of Resources: Some people have to take bribes for themselves, their families, or their villages because they are so poor that they have no resources. They might get a better education for themselves or a job for somebody in the family. They may be able to afford food, water, clothes, and housing. But when you can’t feed your children it is hard to think about anything else but money. For example, this causes some fathers to trade sexual favors with their daughters in exchange for money or gifts. Sometimes women will trade sex with strangers just to make ends meet.
2. Corrupt Politicians exist because there is a lack of information among the general public who vote them into office: A lot of politicians come from wealthy backgrounds and don’t understand what poverty feels like as well as those who have lived through it firsthand. If a politician wants to help impoverished countries then he/she needs to have an understanding of the problems these countries face. It also helps if politicians listen more carefully to the people who are most affected by these problems and use less jargon when explaining things to them. Politicians should also work on reforming economic policies that keep countries in poverty such as unfair trade agreements or inadequate monetary support programs. In order to fix the system, we need to change how governments fund themselves which leads us to point 3.
3. The third cause of corruption is an Inadequate Government Funding System: Governments must provide services (such as healthcare) to citizens- One way to do this is through taxes; however, it can be difficult for governments to collect taxes from their citizens in areas where tax evasion exists and large numbers of people live below the poverty line. Tax evasion includes not paying income taxes, buying items without paying sales tax, and not declaring all assets. Tax evasion reduces government revenue and funds needed for schools, hospitals, police forces, and other essential government institutions. By ensuring that everyone pays their fair share of taxes, governments would be able to give back services to those living in poverty.

Steps to Control Corruption

1. Transparency – This is the easiest way to approach corruption because it only requires the keeping of public records, but it does not prevent any actions from happening. This can also be used in conjunction with other methods, such as mandating that all transactions are handled online in order to provide a complete record. 
2. Legislation – Laws can help prevent many forms of corruption by providing guidelines and limitations for what an individual or organization is able to do. However, even if laws exist to keep people honest, those who break them will not be caught unless they are investigated. 
3. Education – Corruption starts at a young age when individuals become aware of how the world works and begin to see some adults taking advantage of others on behalf of their friends or family members. There need to be more education programs available on how corruption affects everyone as well as more monitoring systems within schools themselves to make sure teachers are teaching students rather than making money off bribes. 
4. Self-interest – When someone has self-interest, they have the motivation to act without considering how their actions affect others. They care primarily about themselves and are likely to use bribery and extortion tactics in order to benefit themselves while harming anyone else who gets in their way. Although this type of person might appear selfish, they often neglect themselves in pursuit of short-term goals which ultimately harms them long-term.

Steps were Taken by the Government to Reduce Corruption

The government of Myanmar has come up with various ways to tackle the issue of corruption. One way is to provide transparency in public contracting so that the information on bidders, evaluations, awardees, and award decisions will be available for anyone who wants to view it. Steps have also been taken to reduce bribery or gratuities in different sectors such as education, health care, media organizations, etc. These are some steps taken by the government of Myanmar to control corruption. Another approach which is called ‘targets-driven programs’ includes setting specific goals and expectations which need to be met before payment can take place. Under this approach, if a service provider fails to meet these targets then he/she will not get paid until they fulfill their obligations.

Corruption in the Indian Context

Corruption is a major problem in India. Recently, the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi has taken measures to try and curb the rampant corruption that plagues the country’s public sector. These measures include a nationwide cleanliness campaign that aims to make sanitation a top priority for Indians, as well as a crackdown on illegal mining practices which are often used as a cover for extracting black money. Both of these efforts have resulted in great success so far. In addition, Mr. Modi plans to pass legislation aimed at making it more difficult for politicians and bureaucrats to take bribes or engage in corrupt activities while they’re working on behalf of the Indian people. It will also help lower corruption by changing how government contracts are awarded and monitored. The government claims these reforms will cut red tape and bring greater transparency, leading to better governance at all levels in society.

Legal Framework for Fighting Corruption in India

In India, the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (PCA) is a legislation which defines the offences of bribery and criminal misconduct by public servants. It also deals with punishment for such offences. The PCA provides for appointment of an investigating agency to investigate into allegations against public servant, provide protection to witnesses who are likely to be intimidated or harassed, or face any other difficulty in giving evidence in court proceedings. It has been amended several times to introduce new provisions on various aspects of combating corruption. For example, some amendments address prevention through education and awareness programmes while others relate to investigation of offences involving government contracts and auctions or bidding processes; some amendments also extend the jurisdiction of this law from Central Government employees to include those working in state governments as well.

Reason for Corruption in India

There is no single factor that leads to corruption in India, but there are a number of factors that have contributed to the problem. India’s culture, history, society and economy have all played a part in making corruption the norm rather than the exception. The effects of this has been devastating for Indians as it has led to high crime rates and low levels of economic growth. In order to reduce the prevalence of corruption in India, various approaches need to be taken concurrently. For example, those at the top of government should be working to reduce bribery by refusing gifts and other benefits from their subordinates. On the other hand, ordinary people must become more aware of what constitutes corruption in their day-to-day lives so they can report such instances when they happen. Furthermore, public servants must not only disclose their assets but also those belonging to their family members.

Trustworthy Sources on Corruption

Source	Article Title	Link	Summary
Transparency International	What is corruption?	Visit Source	Defines corruption as the abuse of entrusted power for private gain, highlighting its impact on trust, democracy, economic development, and more.
United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)	Corruption	Visit Source	Describes corruption as a complex phenomenon affecting all countries, undermining democratic institutions, and slowing economic development.
Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School	corruption	Visit Source	Defines corruption as dishonest, fraudulent, or criminal acts by individuals or organizations using entrusted authority for personal gain.
Basel Institute on Governance	What is corruption?	Visit Source	Commonly defines corruption as “the abuse of public office for personal gain,” discussing its implications and the need for anti-corruption measures.

Combatting Corruption

• Implementing strict laws and penalties.
• Promoting ethical standards and integrity in public service.

Transparency in Government

• Ensuring open access to government activities and decisions.
• Implementing systems for public oversight and accountability.

Corruption and Democracy

• Erodes trust in public institutions.
• Undermines fair and democratic processes.

Economic Development and Corruption

• Hampers investment and growth.
• Creates an uneven playing field for businesses.

Bribery and Corruption

• Exchange of favors or gifts for undue advantages.
• A common form of corruption affecting all sectors.

Corruption Consequences

• Loss of public funds.
• Deterioration of public services and infrastructure.

Corruption Causes

• Lack of transparency and accountability.
• Weak legal systems and enforcement.

Corruption Cures

• Strengthening institutions and governance.
• Encouraging public participation in anti-corruption efforts.

Corruption and Inequality

• Disproportionately affects the poor and marginalized.
• Widens the gap between rich and poor.

Corruption and Poverty

• Diverts resources meant for development.
• Contributes to persistent poverty levels.

Examples of Corrupt Behavior

• Embezzlement of public funds.
• Nepotism in job appointments.

Corruption in Power

• Leaders abusing their position for personal gain.
• Manipulation of policies to benefit a select few.

Anti-Corruption Measures

• Establishing independent anti-corruption bodies.
• Promoting international cooperation to tackle cross-border corruption.

Consequence of Corruption

Corruption is a major problem in many countries, because it undermines the foundations of democracy, good governance, social justice, and economic development. Corruption has many consequences. One of them is that it increases poverty by diverting public funds from programs like healthcare or education to pay for the lavish lifestyles of corrupt officials. Another consequence is that it undermines democracies because people don’t trust their governments. In addition, corruption discourages investment and slows economic growth by increasing uncertainty about the fairness of government actions. Finally, it can lead to social unrest when people are unable to meet their basic needs due to high levels of inequality brought on by widespread corruption

Way forward

Corruption is a major problem for many countries around the world, but there are various ways to try to control it. Governments can come up with new laws, like the Bribery Act 2010, which made it illegal for a UK citizen to bribe a foreign public official. This approach may be more effective in some parts of the world than others because bribery is accepted in some cultures. Another way to combat corruption is by promoting transparency, like when government officials publish their assets. Publicizing this information could make citizens feel that their government is fair, making them less likely to engage in corrupt activities themselves. More sophisticated tools have also been developed, such as anti-bribery software that keeps track of how much money an individual has spent on bribes.

Conclusion

Although it is hard to determine the effectiveness of many of these approaches, there is no doubt that all of them are necessary for fighting corruption. The government must take these measures now so that they may progress in developing their country.

What is Corruption – FAQs

What is the definition of corruption?

Corruption is dishonest or fraudulent conduct by those in power, typically involving bribery or the misuse of public funds or resources.

What are the main types of corruption?

Key types include bribery, embezzlement, fraud, extortion, cronyism, and nepotism.

How does corruption affect society?

It erodes trust, weakens democracy, hampers economic development, and exacerbates inequality, poverty, and social division.

What steps can be taken to control corruption?

Steps include promoting transparency and accountability, enforcing strict legal penalties, encouraging public participation, and fostering ethical standards.

Why is it important to combat corruption?

Combating corruption is crucial for sustainable development, social justice, and the establishment of fair governance and rule of law.

Can corruption be completely eradicated?

While it’s challenging to completely eradicate corruption, concerted efforts can significantly reduce its prevalence and impact.

What role do individuals play in controlling corruption?

Individuals can help by staying informed, reporting corrupt practices, and supporting anti-corruption movements and policies.

How do international organizations contribute to the fight against corruption?

Organizations like Transparency International and the UNODC work globally to raise awareness, develop anti-corruption standards, and assist governments in implementing effective anti-corruption measures.