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An Excellent Definition of "Corruption," and America's Fall in the Corruption Index
Tuesday, November 2nd, 2010
Robert Wechsler
A week ago, Transparency International published its fifteenth annual Corruption
Perceptions Index, which scores countries on the basis of a variety
of independent reports on and surveys about corruption, including those
from the World Bank and other development banks, and those surveying
journalists, business executives, and international organization staff.
Here in the U.S., the big news is that, for the first time, the U.S. has fallen out of the top 20 least corrupt nations, mainly due, it appears, to the effect of money in politics and the information that came out due to the financial crisis. The U.S. fell from 18 to 22, just behind Chile and just ahead of Uruguay.
The president of Transparency International U.S. is quoted as saying, with respect to the financial crisis, "Maybe some of what went on is legal, but it seems like ethics and integrity took a back seat."
TI's definition of corruption is a good one: "the abuse of entrusted power for private gain." This includes both unethical conduct and crime, both government and business. Note that the definition simply says "private gain." Not the officials' gain, but also their families', friends', and business and political associates'. The definition also includes the concept of trust. It is a very dense, but easily understood definition.
The definition also focuses on something government ethics professionals too often are afraid to mention: power. Individuals with very little power embezzle funds all the time, but this usually has nothing to do with corruption. They are usually desperate people, often gambling or drug addicts, who simply have the opportunity to steal from their employer, whether it be a company or a government agency. Although this is criminal, it is not corrupt.
An unethical or corrupt government is one where those in power are either involved in unethical and criminal activities that lead to private gain, or allow these activities to go on. A completely passive mayor is no better than one on the take, if he knows that others are on the take and keeps the knowledge to himself. On the take or not, he is abusing the power with which he has been entrusted.
Robert Wechsler
Director of Research-Retired, City Ethics
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Here in the U.S., the big news is that, for the first time, the U.S. has fallen out of the top 20 least corrupt nations, mainly due, it appears, to the effect of money in politics and the information that came out due to the financial crisis. The U.S. fell from 18 to 22, just behind Chile and just ahead of Uruguay.
The president of Transparency International U.S. is quoted as saying, with respect to the financial crisis, "Maybe some of what went on is legal, but it seems like ethics and integrity took a back seat."
TI's definition of corruption is a good one: "the abuse of entrusted power for private gain." This includes both unethical conduct and crime, both government and business. Note that the definition simply says "private gain." Not the officials' gain, but also their families', friends', and business and political associates'. The definition also includes the concept of trust. It is a very dense, but easily understood definition.
The definition also focuses on something government ethics professionals too often are afraid to mention: power. Individuals with very little power embezzle funds all the time, but this usually has nothing to do with corruption. They are usually desperate people, often gambling or drug addicts, who simply have the opportunity to steal from their employer, whether it be a company or a government agency. Although this is criminal, it is not corrupt.
An unethical or corrupt government is one where those in power are either involved in unethical and criminal activities that lead to private gain, or allow these activities to go on. A completely passive mayor is no better than one on the take, if he knows that others are on the take and keeps the knowledge to himself. On the take or not, he is abusing the power with which he has been entrusted.
Robert Wechsler
Director of Research-Retired, City Ethics
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