What is corruption?
Survey respondents were asked whether they viewed a series of activities as being“corrupt.” Figure 1 (Question 6) shows the distribution of responses of all respondentsin their assessment of these activities.As shown by Figure 1, 92 percent of all respondents believed that “accepting bribesto not do your official duties” was definitely corrupt and 5 percent thought that it wasmaybe corrupt. Similarly, 89 percent of all respondents believed that “paying a judicial official to influence the result of a case in your favour” was definitely corrupt and 7 percent thought that it was maybe corrupt. Surprisingly, 3 percent of respondentsbelieved that such an activity was not corrupt.In contrast, only 23 percent of respondents believed that professionals offering “mates’ rates” for friends and associates was definitely corrupt and 42 percent thought that it was maybe corrupt. However, 33 percent of all respondents stated that “mates’ rates” for friends and associates was definitely not corrupt, while 2 percent of respondents did not
know. Similarly, 33 percent of all respondents believed that “gifts to a doctor to take special
care of you” was definitely corrupt, 33 percent thought that it was maybe corrupt,
31 percent thought that it was definitely not corrupt and 3 percent did not know.
Overall, the data in Figure 1 show that only a couple of the nominated scenarios
overwhelmingly attract the label corrupt behaviour. For many of the other scenarios
there is divergence in the community about how corrupt they believe the activities to
be. The significance of this dissonance in opinion is discussed in more detail below.