What Is Corruption

What is corruption? - Transparency.org https://www.transparency.
org/en/what-is-corruption
About
WHAT IS CORRUPTION?
We de%ne corruption as the abuse of entrusted power for

private gain.
Corruption erodes trust, weakens democracy, hampers

economic development and further exacerbates inequality,
poverty, social division and the environmental crisis.
Exposing corruption and holding the corrupt to account can only

happen if we understand the way corruption works and the
systems that enable it.
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What is corruption? - Transparency.org https://www.transparency.org/en/what-is-corruption
What is corruption?
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The Basics
Corruption can take many forms, and can include behaviours like:
public servants demanding or taking money or favours in exchange for
services,
politicians misusing public money or granting public jobs or contracts
to their sponsors, friends and families,
corporations bribing oAcials to get lucrative deals
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Corruption can happen anywhere: in business, government, the
courts, the media, and in civil society, as well as across all sectors from
health and education to infrastructure and sports.
Corruption can involve anyone: politicians, government oBcials,
public servants, business people or members of the public.
Corruption happens in the shadows, often with the help of
professional enablers such as bankers, lawyers, accountants and real
estate agents, opaque Cnancial systems and anonymous shell
companies that allow corruption schemes to Dourish and the corrupt to
launder and hide their illicit wealth.
Corruption adapts to diEerent contexts and changing circumstances. It
can evolve in response to changes in rules, legislation and even
technology.
See our anti-corruption glossary for more examples of
corrupt behaviour
CORRUPTIONARY A-Z
The costs of corruption
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Political costs
Your freedom and rule of law.
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Social costs
Your participation and even your trust in government.
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Environmental costs
Your chance for a healthy environment and a sustainable future.
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Economic costs
Your opportunity to build and grow wealth.
To Fight Corruption, We Must Embrace

Transparency
Transparency is all about knowing who, why, what, how and how much.
It means shedding light on formal and informal rules, plans, processes
and actions. Transparency helps us, the public, hold all power to
account for the common good.
Seeking and receiving information is a human right that can act as a
safeguard against corruption, and increase trust in decision makers and
public institutions. However, transparency is not only about making
information available, but ensuring it can be easily accessed,
understood and used by citizens.
But transparency is only the %rst step to curbing

corruption
We have learned from over twenty-Cve years of experience that
corruption can only be kept in check if representatives from
government, business and civil society work together for the common
good.
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See our Strategy to know how Transparency
International is working across society to enhance
accountability and integrity
OUR STRATEGY
SHARE OUR VISION
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Engage
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chapters
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donate now to help us end corruption
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About
What is corruption?
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Our story
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What is corruption? - Transparency.org https://www.transparency.

We de%ne corruption as the abuse of entrusted power for

Corruption erodes trust, weakens democracy, hampers

Exposing corruption and holding the corrupt to account can only

public servants demanding or taking money or favours in exchange for

politicians misusing public money or granting public jobs or contracts

to their sponsors, friends and families,

corporations bribing oAcials to get lucrative deals

Corruption can happen anywhere: in business, government, the

health and education to infrastructure and sports.

Corruption can involve anyone: politicians, government oBcials,

public servants, business people or members of the public.

Corruption happens in the shadows, often with the help of

professional enablers such as bankers, lawyers, accountants and real

estate agents, opaque Cnancial systems and anonymous shell

companies that allow corruption schemes to Dourish and the corrupt to

launder and hide their illicit wealth.

Corruption adapts to diEerent contexts and changing circumstances. It

can evolve in response to changes in rules, legislation and even

See our anti-corruption glossary for more examples of

The costs of corruption

Your freedom and rule of law.

Your participation and even your trust in government.

Your chance for a healthy environment and a sustainable future.

Your opportunity to build and grow wealth.

To Fight Corruption, We Must Embrace

It means shedding light on formal and informal rules, plans, processes

account for the common good.

Seeking and receiving information is a human right that can act as a

safeguard against corruption, and increase trust in decision makers and

public institutions. However, transparency is not only about making

information available, but ensuring it can be easily accessed,

understood and used by citizens.

But transparency is only the %rst step to curbing

We have learned from over twenty-Cve years of experience that

corruption can only be kept in check if representatives from

See our Strategy to know how Transparency

International is working across society to enhance

accountability and integrity

SHARE OUR VISION

View our Privacy Policy.

Join the conversation on social media

Corruption Perceptions Index

Global Corruption Barometer

Advocacy and legal advice centres

International Anti-Corruption Conference

Career & tender opportunities

How we're funded

How we're accountable

© Transparency International 2023. Some rights reserved.

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