Albania tops most bribed country list

TIRANA, Dec. 7 – The Transparency International’s Global Corruption Barometer 2006, which explores how corruption affects ordinary people, showed on Thursday that Albania is one of the four most bribed countries in the world, accompanied by three African nations. The report provides an indication of the form and extent of corruption from the viewpoint of citizens from around the world. The Global Corruption Barometer 2006, the fourth in the series, reflects the findings of a survey taken in 62 low, middle and high-income countries. Some 800 persons were interviewed in Albania.
Albania was on top of the list as the country most affected (40 percent) by bribery, together with Cameroon, Gabon and Morocco. Albania scored 2.6 in the 2006 CPI; two-thirds of respondents who had contact with public services admitted to paying at least one bribe in the past year, according to the report. For corruption affecting personal and political life and the business environment, Albania came in second (51-70 percent), surpassed in the region only by Greece (more than 70 percent) and even with Bulgaria, Croatia, Macedonia, Romania and Turkey.
Answering the question: “In the past 12 months have you or anyone living in your household paid a bribe in any form Ţ, 66 percent of Albanian respondents said yes, the highest figure among the southeastern countries.
Answering the question: “How would you assess your current government’s actions in the fight against corruption?”, 7 percent of Albanian respondents said it was “very effective,” 33 percent said “effective,” 13 percent “not effective,” 4 percent that it does not fight it at all, and 7 percent that it does not fight but actually encourages it.
Answering the question: “To what extent do you perceive the following sectors in this country/territory to be affected by corruption?”, with 1 being not at all corrupt, and 5 being extremely corrupt, Albanian respondents said: 3.2 for political parties and Parliament/Legislature, 3.1 for Business/ private sector, 3.8 for Police and Legal system/Judiciary, 2.5 for Media, 3.4 for Tax revenue, 4.1 for Medical services, 2.8 for Education system, 2.7 for the Military, 3.2 for Utilities, 3.6 for Registry and permit services, 3.0 for NGOs, 2.3 for Religious bodies. Notably, medical services seem to be the most-bribed.
Answering the question “Some people believe that corruption affects different spheres of life in this country. In your view does corruption affect: (1: Not at all Š4: To a large extent)” Albanians responded: 3.6 for Political life, 3.3 for the business environment, and 2.8 for personal and family life.
These results show that people everywhere see corruption as a major problem, according to the Barometer. There is a widespread perception that the authority vested in institutions that ought to represent the public interest is, in fact, being abused for private gain. The burden of corruption falls hardest on those who can least afford it. Misuse of public funds does the greatest harm to the money available for safe water, schools and health care. Yet so far, in too many places in the world, government action to stop corruption has been judged lackluster and ineffective. People from all countries polled believe that corruption greatly affects their livesءnd above all they express concern at the role of parties and elected politicians in the corruption equation. The challenge remains for political leaders to prove that they are not actually fuelling corrupt practices, but are a genuine part of efforts to enhance transparency, accountability and integrity in societies around the world.