The problem of political corruption

The problem of political corruption.

What is political corruption?

Political corruption is the use of legislated powers by government officials for illegitimate private gain. Forms of corruption vary, but The most common is bribery.

A bribe is a payment given personally to a government official in exchange of his use of official powers. Bribery requires two participants: one to give the bribe, and one to take it. for example, a customs official may demand bribes to let through allowed (or disallowed) goods. 

Corruption Perceptions Index.

Since 1995, Transparency International has published an annual Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) ordering the countries of the world according to "the degree to which corruption is perceived to exist among public officials and politicians». The organization defines corruption as "the abuse of entrusted power for private gain"

A higher score means less corruption. The results show seven out of every ten countries (and nine out of every ten developing countries) with an index of less than 5 points out of 10.

     Political corruption in Russia.

Corruption in Russia is a significant problem that impacts the lives of Russia’s citizens. Russia is on the 154th place out of 176 in the Corruption Perceptions Index published by Transparency International, landing between Papua New Guinea and Tajikistan. The organization estimates that market for corruption in Russia is worth $300 billion a year or 50% of GDP. Political commentator Anton Orekh responded to the report by saying that Russia would continue to fall in the ratings “until honest people become the most powerful ones in the country.”

Alexandra Wrage, whose non-profit organization TRACE International advises firms on how to avoid bribery, told Reuters that corruption in Russia was much worse than in other big emerging economies.

President Dmitry Medvedev has put fighting corruption at the top of the list of his priorities. The Interior Ministry says it's investigated 40,000 cases this year, up 11 percent from last year, and Medvedev says more than 500 officials and 700 law-enforcement officers have been jailed in the first six months of this year on charges related to corruption.

The overall number of such crimes is 10 times or even 100 times as large as the number that is uncovered. It's just the tip of the iceberg.

That’s why despite official Kremlin announcements that the government take on corruption, things don’t change.

Rather than debate the size of the fine for corruption, the president would be better to start precluding it. 

Vocabulary.

1. legislated power-Законодательные полномочия
2. illegitimate-Незаконный, противоправный
3. bribery-Взяточничество.
4. to let through-Пропускать
5. to perceive-Различать,
6. Abuse-Злоупотребление
7. emerging economies-развивающиеся экономики
8. Interior Ministry-Министр внутренних дел
9. law-enforcement officer- сотрудник правоохранительных органов