Nature of corruption

There is no unique and only definition for corruption and probably there is not going to be any. The reasons for that inability vary from societal customs and ethical-moral beliefs to authority relations between different powers affecting society. Also absence of contents for expressions public sector and public official makes it difficult or even impossible to define the concept of corruption as these are the core elements for most definitions.

Corruption has been defined as a deviance or failure of public official to fulfill one’s duties due to bribes or some other self-interest. Corruption may also be a temptation to reach inappropriate or illegal results. The World Bank has defined corruption as a use of administrative agency for personal benefits. This is relatively narrow definition because it comprises two very concrete features: administrative agency and personal benefit. Given specification can limit the definition of corruption even more because in this sense corruption is personal benefit of administrative officer not the benefit of third persons. Weakness of the definitions given above is that they embody only public sector and are not applicable for private sector.

Transparency International (TI) has provided the following: corruption is misdemeanor committed by public sector official (or politician) using one’s official powers in order to receive personal benefits for himself/herself or for closer persons. Nevertheless this definition also neglects private sector.

The World Bank has developed even more comprehensive definition than the one mentioned above. Improving TI’s definition they have added „official of private sector“ and „to affect somebody to act in unsuitable or illegal way“. That should establish sufficient prerequisites to fight the corruption effectively.

Source: „Society and corruption. Selection of articles and presentations“ (Institute of Jaan Tõnisson, 1998)