Corruption in the context of the principal-agent model of relations: the essence and the main causes

Abstract

The essence of corruption and its main causes are investigated in the article; the differences of those causes from the conditions conducive to the commission of corruption offenses are characterized. The construction method of the so-called «principal-agency» relationship model is used by the authors. On the basis of the obtained results, some proposals have been formulated to improve the domestic anti-corruption mechanism. Corruption is a double-sided phenomenon. Corrupt officials will receive undeserved benefits, take bribes, etc. till they are bribed by ordinary citizens and businessmen (corrupters). Only the country in which citizens basically do not give and do not provoke bribes, and officials do not take and do not extort them on conviction (the emphasis on the bribe is made because of its greatest prevalence in the structure of corruption criminality) can be «clean» from corruption. The main priority of the state anti-corruption policy should be the formation in the society of principal and active rejection of corruption by all citizens regardless of their social status. Taking into account the mentioned circumstances educational measures must be put forward in the national system of anti-corruption. To tell the truth, they will not produce an effect at once, but will be effective later.