1. Monitoring and Measuring Levels of Corruption in Bulgaria and South East Europe

2. www.vitosha-research.com Monitoring and Anticorruption  Political debate and factual measurement - How serious is corruption? - Who is corrupt? - Is corruption possible?  The role of corruption measurement in anticorruption programs - Defining the problem - Identifying problem areas - Describing corruption mechanisms  Tracking progress - Corruption monitoring - Issues of consistency and regularity of measures

3. www.vitosha-research.com The Corruption Monitoring System of Coalition 2000: Role and Design  Role and functions of monitoring in the Coalition 2000 process - Identifying problem areas - Help defining arguments and reach consensus on policies and anticorruption measures  Design of the monitoring instruments (methodology) - Quantitative research : representative surveys of general public, business sector and public officials. Information about levels of corruption victimization and public perceptions. - Qualitative research : focus groups with different target groups Information about mechanisms of corruption practices and specific forms of corruption - Qualitative research : in-depth interviews with key informants, desk research, mirror statistics, case studies Information about corruption processes related to specific institutions (e.g. customs, police, judiciary, education, etc.)

4. www.vitosha-research.com The Corruption Monitoring System of Coalition 2000: The Public-Private Process  Background: previous surveys 1996-1998 (CSD, Vitosha Research, International Comparative survey – W. Miller, University of Glasgow)  Pretest period: 1998  Public Research Council - Government institutions (National Statistics, Ministry of Interior, Prosecutors’ Office, etc.) - Major Research companies - Academia

5. www.vitosha-research.com The Corruption Monitoring System of Coalition 2000: Theoretical Basis Design of the monitoring instruments: theory and indicators Experience based indicators (level of corruption victimization) - Involvement (personal) in corruption transactions Includes a set of questions measuring the incidence of transfers to public officials in order to receive: (a) better service or (b) violate law - Corruption pressure (personal) Includes a set of questions measuring the incidence of officials directly asking or “hinting” that a transfer is expected. Transfer = gift, favor, money

6. www.vitosha-research.com The Corruption Monitoring System of Coalition 2000: Theoretical Basis  Perception based indicators (perceptions about the spread of corruption in different segments of society) - Tolerance of corruption practices Set of questions asking respondent to identify whether specific practices (bribe, conflict of interest, trading in influence, etc.) are acceptable for certain officials - Perceptions of the spread and practical effectiveness of corruption practices Set of questions directly asking about the perceived level of corruption in society, institutions, socio-professional groups and about the perceived “effectiveness” of corruption as problem solving tool. - Expectations of possibilities of the government to cope with the problem of corruption Set of questions directly measuring the perceptions about the ability of the government to cope with corruption among lower and higher level officials.

7. www.vitosha-research.com What Indicators Measure  Administrative corruption Incidence of corrupt practices in the interaction between citizens and businesses with the administration and in public services  Type of corruption measured - Corruption among lower and middle level officials; - The most widespread forms of “petit” corruption associated with gifts, favors and money  Excluded: grand (political) corruption, state capture

8. www.vitosha-research.com Monitoring Results Experience based indicators  Corruption practices (personal involvement in corruption transactions)  Corruption pressure (attempts by pubic officials to start a corruption transaction)

9. www.vitosha-research.com Levels of Corruption Victimization (% of the population and number of cases)

10. www.vitosha-research.com Indexes of Experience Based Indicators: Bulgaria (min = 0, max = 10)

11. www.vitosha-research.com Perception Based Indicators  Spread of corruption  Practical efficiency of corruption  Expectations  Tolerance/acceptability of corruption practices

12. www.vitosha-research.com Spread and Practical Efficiency of Corruption: Bulgaria 1998-2004

13. www.vitosha-research.com Discussion and Conclusions  Reduction of the levels of corruption victimization levels shown by experience based indicators  No change (stability) of the levels of perceived corruption by the in-country population  Gradual reduction of tolerance/acceptability indicators in the course of intensive anticorruption efforts

14. www.vitosha-research.com Perception Based v/s Experience Based Indicators: Bulgaria 1999-2004 Source: Vitosha Research national surveys 1999 - 2004

15. www.vitosha-research.com Media Coverage of Corruption and Public Perceptions of Its Relative Importance: Bulgaria

16. www.vitosha-research.com Perception based v/s Experience Based Indicators: South East Europe

17. www.vitosha-research.com Corruption Victimization Level Indexes (involvement in corruption practices): South East Europe 2001 and 2002

18. www.vitosha-research.com Spread of Corruption

19. www.vitosha-research.com Practical Efficiency of Corruption

20. www.vitosha-research.com Expectations