No . 143

http://www.aic.gov.au Corruption, defined here as the exploitation of public office for personal gain, is a universal phenomenon. The practice, in one manifestation or another, is as old as government itself. Today, it thrives in the world’s wealthiest nations, and in its poorest. It exists on every continent, across people of all nationalities and religions. Corruption can take many forms, including: ● Bribery: where an official accepts money or some other consideration to engage in a particular course of action, or inaction. ● Extortion: where an official demands money or some other consideration to engage in a particular course of action, or inaction. ● Embezzlement: where an official misappropriates public assets for personal use. ● Fraud: where an official makes a false claim for benefits for which he or she is not entitled, or in order to avoid liability for payment, such as tax or customs duty. ● Conflict of interest: where an official stands to profit incidentally from an official act. This could involve a planning decision which has the effect of increasing the value of property owned by the official, or the awarding of a government contract to a company in which the official has a financial interest. Closely related to corruption, but excluded from discussion here, is the abuse of power for institutional ends, where there is no explicit personal gain for the offender. This category includes, for example, the use of excessive force or fabrication of evidence by police (sometimes referred to as “noble cause” corruption), or discriminatory practices by public sector employers who are motivated by factors other than personal enrichment. Corruption need not be limited to the public sector. Officers of large companies may use its resources for private purposes, and other private individuals may be party to the activities just described, as well as to conflicts of interest. Such “private corruption” will not be addressed here.