Identifying Corruption Risk: A Comparison of Bulgaria and the Czech Republic

Abstract

The article focuses on risk assessment of individual and systematic corruption at the municipal level in the Czech Republic and Bulgaria. For this purpose, it uses the method of Corruption Risk FMEA, which is based on the classic Fault Mode and Effect Analysis used mainly in production. The model views corruption as an individual action, the application of which revealed significant differences in corruption risk which were detrimental in Bulgaria. The causes of these differences can be seen in the normative attitude of the public towards corruption, the insufficient involvement of the general public, and also the lack in range of controls. Improving the current situation can be achieved in two ways. The “low road” means increasing controls, for example, audits (in particular) and performance benchmarking, and applying them at the appropriate time. The “high road” means utilizing soft instruments and a change in the normative approach of the public towards corruption.

Keywords:

• comparative research
• study of the risk of corruption
• Risk Corruption FMEA
• the Czech Republic
• Bulgaria

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Michal Plaček

Michal Plaček is a researcher at the Center for Social and Economic Strategies (CESES) Faculty of Social Sciences Charles University. His research is focused on decentralization, efficiency in public administration.

Milan Půček

Milan Půček is a associate professor at Center for Social and Economics Strategies, Charles University Prague. He has experience in basic and applied research and has participated, for example in following research projects CAF Methodology Improvement, Enhancing the analytical planning and implementation capacities of strategic governance in regions. His research is focused on efficiency and savings in public sector.

František Ochrana

František Ochrana is a professor at Faculty of Social Sciences, Charles University. He participated on more than 28 research projects. He is an author of 14 academic books. He is a consultant for various subjects of public sector in field of public procurement.