Korrupsiyaga

Korrupsiyaga is the Uzbek term used to describe corruption, the abuse of entrusted power for private gain. It encompasses actions by public officials, private sector actors, or institutions that deviate from duty and public interest in pursuit of personal advantage. Common manifestations include bribery, embezzlement, kickbacks, nepotism, favoritism, procurement fraud, and influence peddling.

Forms of korrupsiyaga can occur at many levels. Petty corruption involves small bribes in daily public services, while grand corruption refers to large-scale misuse of resources by high-level officials. State capture, where private interests shape public policy for their benefit, is a related concern. Corruption often interferes with competitive markets, distorts resource allocation, and reduces trust in government.

Causes are typically structural and include weak institutions, lack of transparency, opaque budget and procurement processes, inadequate salaries, limited accountability, and insufficient checks and balances. Political incentives, crisis conditions, and insufficient legal protections for whistleblowers can also sustain corrupt practices.

The consequences are wide-ranging: reduced economic efficiency, higher costs for goods and services, unequal public access to resources, weakened rule of law, and diminished public trust. Corruption can deter investment and exacerbate inequality, undermining development and social cohesion.

Efforts to address korrupsiyaga commonly involve strengthening institutions and governance. Measures include independent judiciary and auditing, transparent procurement and budgeting, open data initiatives, asset disclosure, whistleblower protection, and robust anti-corruption agencies. International frameworks such as the UNCAC, GRECO, and cross-border cooperation support these efforts. Measuring progress relies on indices and surveys that assess perceptions, experiences, and institutional performance.