The United Nations anti-corruption agency has documented a pervasive pattern of corruption and bribery in the Western Balkan countries, according to a survey released on Tuesday.
The survey of 28,000 people—issued by the U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime and funded by the European Commission—found that corruption is the third-most pressing issue for residents of the region after jobs and poverty, well ahead of security or education.
It was noted that about 22 percent of all Western Balkans give food or drink as bribes while two third of all bribes are paid in cash.
The report also noted that women prefer to offer bribes of food and drink while men prefer to offer cash bribes.
The survey found that about one in six Western Balkans paid at least one bribe in 2010, with 57 percent of the total bribes being paid to doctors, 35 percent to police officers, and 13 percent to municipal officials.
In Croatia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, most people pay bribes in the form of food and drink, while cash payments account for less than half of all bribes.
The report also shows that nearly 28 percent of Western Balkans pay bribes to “receive better treatment,” while other reasons cited included the desire to speed up a procedure, avoid paying a fine, or finalize a procedure.
The survey of 28,000 people—issued by the U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime and funded by the European Commission—found that corruption is the third-most pressing issue for residents of the region after jobs and poverty, well ahead of security or education.
It was noted that about 22 percent of all Western Balkans give food or drink as bribes while two third of all bribes are paid in cash.
The report also noted that women prefer to offer bribes of food and drink while men prefer to offer cash bribes.
The survey found that about one in six Western Balkans paid at least one bribe in 2010, with 57 percent of the total bribes being paid to doctors, 35 percent to police officers, and 13 percent to municipal officials.
In Croatia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, most people pay bribes in the form of food and drink, while cash payments account for less than half of all bribes.
The report also shows that nearly 28 percent of Western Balkans pay bribes to “receive better treatment,” while other reasons cited included the desire to speed up a procedure, avoid paying a fine, or finalize a procedure.
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