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Macedonia to Face Third Wave of Anti-Corruption Efforts: Survey Reveals Widespread Bribery Experience Among Population

Skopje, Macedonia

The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia is set to undergo a thorough review of its anti-corruption efforts, with the latest survey revealing widespread bribery experiences among the population.

Corruption Perception and Experience

According to the report released by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), nearly half of respondents (46%) perceive that the level of corruption in the country has increased over the past three years. The survey, conducted in 2010, covered a nationally representative sample of 3,500 citizens aged 18 to 64.

40% of respondents reported experiencing bribery firsthand.
More than half of those cases involved public officials.
Corruption ranked third among the most important problems faced by citizens, behind unemployment and unfavorable economic status.
Nationally, corruption was ranked fourth, following unemployment, bad economic situation, and lack of trust in institutions.

Public Perception

The survey also found that:

62% of respondents believed that the level of corruption had increased over the past year.
14% thought it had decreased.
One-quarter of respondents were unable to provide an answer.

Regional Coverage and Objectives

The survey covered all eight regions of Macedonia, with a representative sample from each area. The main objectives of the survey were:

To examine actual experience of administrative corruption, including bribery.
To collect information on reporting corruption to authorities, citizens’ opinions about corruption and integrity, and experiences as victims of other forms of crime.

Conclusion

This study aims to provide evidence-based information for authorities to develop targeted anti-corruption policies. The findings will also be used as a benchmark for measuring future progress in the fight against corruption.