THE number of bribes in November was slightly higher than in March when, according to the corruption indexes of the NGO Coalition 2000 and a survey by the Vitosha Research polling agency, they stood at 80 000 a month.
In November, the number of given and taken bribes added up to
103 000.
This emerged at a news conference given by the head of Vitosha Research, Alexander Stoyanov.
The level of actual corruption was based on the average monthly frequency of corrupt activities in which respondents said they took part.
The seventeenth consecutive poll on the issue by Vitosha Research was conducted between November 18 and 29 among 996 people from across the country.
In spite of the general trend of a gradual decrease in corruption, the size of bribes is growing.
In 2003 the survey found an average of 114 000 cases of corruption a month, while in 1998 there were 240 000.
The trend of increasing value of corruption deals, however, continued as one-third of the bribes ranged between 100 and 200 leva.
This was twice the figure in October 2003 when eight in 10 bribes were for sums of up to 100 leva.
This, according to the pollsters, was because of higher incomes and the opportunity to demand higher sums for the same service.
The level of potential corruption was not only higher than that in March, but was higher than the average levels of 2003.
Divided by professional groups, doctors topped the chart of most corrupt professions.
In November, the corruption pressure among doctors was 22.5 per cent, while in March it was 13.2 per cent.
Second in the list were police officers with 22.2 per cent, followed by lawyers with 16.5 per cent.
The overall level of corruption among investigators, prosecutors and administrative staff within the judiciary also rose.
The corruption among judges, however, dropped twice since March.
According to the respondents, the level of corruption among municipal officials had risen, which was due to municipal decentralisation.
- Staff Reporter
In November, the number of given and taken bribes added up to
103 000.
This emerged at a news conference given by the head of Vitosha Research, Alexander Stoyanov.
The level of actual corruption was based on the average monthly frequency of corrupt activities in which respondents said they took part.
The seventeenth consecutive poll on the issue by Vitosha Research was conducted between November 18 and 29 among 996 people from across the country.
In spite of the general trend of a gradual decrease in corruption, the size of bribes is growing.
In 2003 the survey found an average of 114 000 cases of corruption a month, while in 1998 there were 240 000.
The trend of increasing value of corruption deals, however, continued as one-third of the bribes ranged between 100 and 200 leva.
This was twice the figure in October 2003 when eight in 10 bribes were for sums of up to 100 leva.
This, according to the pollsters, was because of higher incomes and the opportunity to demand higher sums for the same service.
The level of potential corruption was not only higher than that in March, but was higher than the average levels of 2003.
Divided by professional groups, doctors topped the chart of most corrupt professions.
In November, the corruption pressure among doctors was 22.5 per cent, while in March it was 13.2 per cent.
Second in the list were police officers with 22.2 per cent, followed by lawyers with 16.5 per cent.
The overall level of corruption among investigators, prosecutors and administrative staff within the judiciary also rose.
The corruption among judges, however, dropped twice since March.
According to the respondents, the level of corruption among municipal officials had risen, which was due to municipal decentralisation.
- Staff Reporter
