A survey “The Role of Business in Combating Corruption: Armenian Reality” has been conducted in the scope of the “Armenia: Promoting Anti-Corruption Conduct and Reforms” Project implemented by the “Center for International Private Enterprise”, the Armenian Lawyers’ Association, the Corporate Governance Center and the Yerevan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, with financial support of National Endowment for Democracy.
The objective of the survey was:
The survey was conducted among Armenian companies in September-December, 2018. 188 organizations participated in the survey.
In order to clarify the perceptions of corruption, companies were asked to give their own definition of corruption. The overwhelming majority of respondents expressed their opinion on the issue, about 88%. Respondents in their definitions approach corruption from different angles. Therefore, an attempt has been made to group these definitions. It should also be noted that the presented grouping is conditional because it is possible to consider combinations according to the features of the definitions provided below. The inclusion of the definitions in this or that group is largely determined by response to the respondents’ responsiveness to a particular attribute. The definition groups are as follows:
Group 1. Definitions, in which the idea that corruption is an abuse of official position and focuses on the component of conflict of interest ran as a common thread.
Group 2. Definitions that describe the phenomenon.
Group 3: Definitions that view corruption from the perspective of the following manifestations:
Group 4. Definitions that reveal the essence of corruption from the perspective of its consequences.
Group 5. Definitions where the company’s attitude towards corruption or the situation in the company.
Group 6. Emotional definitions.
The following definitions need to be especially emphasized as they view corruption from the point of view of sustainable development and highlight the importance of not only the economic but also social role of companies, including their adoption of anti-corruption stance.
From 165 definitions only one observed corruption in positive light and gave the following formulation: Corruption is the fastest way to solve problems. And only one definition has a pessimistic tone: corruption will not be eradicated as it comes from the time immemorial, and no country has yet succeeded in getting rid of this evil.
This material has been prepared in the scope of the “Armenia: Promoting Anti-Corruption Conduct and Reforms” Project implemented by the “Centre for International Private Enterprise”, the “Armenian Lawyers’ Association” NGO, the “Corporate Governance Centre” NGO and the “Yerevan Chamber of Commerce and Industry” with financial support of the National Endowment for Democracy. The contents of this material are the sole responsibility of the “Armenian Lawyers’ Association” NGO and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the National Endowment for Democracy and the European Union.