Sign in or 
| Version | User | Scope of changes |
|---|---|---|
| May 23 2006, 2:22 AM EDT (current) | Anonymous | |
| May 22 2006, 10:02 PM EDT | Anonymous | 1194 words added |
Changes
Key: Additions Deletions
BribeWiki Manifesto
BribeWiki …spreading digital daylight.
What is BribeWiki?: BribeWiki is a website where individuals anonymously post their experiences with bribery.
BribeWiki strives to collect and organize the “going” rate for facilitating transactions in various countries and locations. It is hoped that transparency will reduce the scope and scale of bribes and their associated social and economic impacts.
BribeWiki does not judge, investigate, or accuse any one or group of illegal or immoral behavior. BribeWiki simply seeks to capture and reflect current activities around the world.
1. Why is bribery or corruption bad?
According to the UN http://www.un.org/events/10thcongress/2088b.htm
In one World Bank survey, more than 150 high-ranking public officials and top citizens from over 60 developing nations ranked corruption as the biggest impediment to economic development and growth in their countries.
Corrupt practices drain government coffers, plays havoc with free trade and scares away investors. The World Bank estimates that corruption can reduce a country's growth rate by 0.5 to 1.0 percentage points per year. IMF research has shown that investment in corrupt countries is almost 5 per cent less than in countries that are relatively corruption-free.
Standard and Poor's, the bond rating agency, gives investors a 50 to 100 per cent chance of losing their entire investments within five years in countries with various degrees of corruption. Such odds make long-term investment which is of most benefit to a country risky and unlikely.
"It is widely acknowledged that corruption scares away foreign investment and development aid", according to Pino Arlacchi, Executive Director of the Vienna-based United Nations Office for Drug Control and Crime Prevention (ODCCP). "Obviously, it is wiser to invest in countries with more transparency, independent and well-regulated banks and strong court systems."
As evidence mounts of the huge economic costs of corruption, the United Nations has decided to step up efforts to fight it.
2. How much corruption is there?
People responding who said they had bribed “paid” an official within the last year.
Developing Countries
18%
Transitional Economies
13%
Industrialized world
1%
1996/97 International Crime Victims Survey (ICVS)
3. Why is there bribery or corruption?
4. Where does corruption occur?
Corruption occurs in every country worldwide. The levels of corruption vary. The best source for indicating the level of corruption in any given country is Transparency International.
5. What is a bribe?
According to Webster’s Dictionary:
1. Something, such as money or a favor, offered or given to a person in a position of trust to influence that person's views or conduct.
2. Something serving to influence or persuade.
6. How does BribeWiki work?
People may anonymously post their experiences of paying bribes to public or private officials in exchange or anticipation of behavioral change by that official. Individuals posting information to BribeWiki are requested to refrain from posting names of recipients or givers of bribes. The objective is to indicate the “going” rate for various bribes. It is hoped that various actors in positions of authority will investigate the reported activities to ascertain veracity.
7. What does BribeWiki hope to achieve?
BribeWiki hopes to put daylight on activities that may cause economic harm to others via their illicit nature. In general many forms of payments are made and labeled as consulting fees, facilitation payments and others. BribeWiki believes that any such payments should be public knowledge. As the accepted behaviors and methods vary from culture to culture, if something is OK then a little digital daylight should be OK.
8. Who can participate in BribeWiki?
Anyone from any country or position is welcome to post their findings, to BribeWiki. BribeWiki strives to have a neutral point of view posted without bias or accusations, merely a statement of fact.
9. Is BribeWiki liable for illegal postings?
BribeWiki does not own or endorse the veracity or truthfulness of posts placed on it. BribeWiki is not condoning illegal behavior or in any way encouraging illegal behavior. BribeWiki also believes that unless convicted by a recognized authority all mentions of names or parties are statements of opinion and not fact.
10. What can and should not be said in a BribeWiki posting?
BribeWiki encourages a NPOV (neutral point of view). BribeWiki discourages the act of explicitly or implicitly naming individuals.
11. What rights do I have to change a BribeWiki page, if I believe it is incorrect.
As a wiki, anyone can change a page at almost any time. Various activities will be discouraged, in order to facilitate the main objectives of the site.
12. How does BribeWiki hope to make things better?
BribeWiki only hopes to act as a gathering point of anecdotal evidence. BribeWiki believes that corruption is best solved via proper channels within various countries. It is hoped that via publicity various actors in countries will assume more active roles in minimizing corruption.
13. Who runs BribeWiki?
BribeWiki is currently run Nick Gogerty a private individual who likes to see how technology and people interact on the micro and macro scale.
14. Who started BribeWiki?
Nick Gogerty came up with idea of BribeWiki while traveling in the spring of 2005.
15. Can BribeWiki promise anonymity?
BribeWiki allows people to post anonymously, but cannot guarantee anonymity as various governments can track IP addresses and participants. For those individuals seeking anonymity, various IP anonymizers are available online.
16. Will I be liable for things I post on BribeWiki?
You will be liable for posting on BribeWiki to the same level you would be liable for any online posting. This varies from country to country.
17. Who is BribeWiki intended to help?
BribeWiki is intended to help anyone directly or indirectly affected by corruption.
18. Is BribeWiki a charity?
BribeWiki is currently not set up as a charity, it is a private project. It is believed in the future BribeWiki will be established as a charity with an independent international board of directors.
BribeWiki …spreading digital daylight.
What is BribeWiki?: BribeWiki is a website where individuals anonymously post their experiences with bribery.
BribeWiki strives to collect and organize the “going” rate for facilitating transactions in various countries and locations. It is hoped that transparency will reduce the scope and scale of bribes and their associated social and economic impacts.
BribeWiki does not judge, investigate, or accuse any one or group of illegal or immoral behavior. BribeWiki simply seeks to capture and reflect current activities around the world.
1. Why is bribery or corruption bad?
According to the UN http://www.un.org/events/10thcongress/2088b.htm
In one World Bank survey, more than 150 high-ranking public officials and top citizens from over 60 developing nations ranked corruption as the biggest impediment to economic development and growth in their countries.
Corrupt practices drain government coffers, plays havoc with free trade and scares away investors. The World Bank estimates that corruption can reduce a country's growth rate by 0.5 to 1.0 percentage points per year. IMF research has shown that investment in corrupt countries is almost 5 per cent less than in countries that are relatively corruption-free.
Standard and Poor's, the bond rating agency, gives investors a 50 to 100 per cent chance of losing their entire investments within five years in countries with various degrees of corruption. Such odds make long-term investment which is of most benefit to a country risky and unlikely.
"It is widely acknowledged that corruption scares away foreign investment and development aid", according to Pino Arlacchi, Executive Director of the Vienna-based United Nations Office for Drug Control and Crime Prevention (ODCCP). "Obviously, it is wiser to invest in countries with more transparency, independent and well-regulated banks and strong court systems."
As evidence mounts of the huge economic costs of corruption, the United Nations has decided to step up efforts to fight it.
2. How much corruption is there?
People responding who said they had bribed “paid” an official within the last year.
Developing Countries
18%
Transitional Economies
13%
Industrialized world
1%
1996/97 International Crime Victims Survey (ICVS)
3. Why is there bribery or corruption?
1. Organized crime
Organized crime is one example of corruption. In this case independent (non-state sanctioned) agents engage in corruption sometimes knowingly in conjunction with state agents.
2. Rational economic behavior
Sadly some procedures and bureaucracies are so poorly organized or officials are so poorly paid, that corruption is a rational and “normal” economic behaviors. In this case the actors are more victims of poor bureaucracy, legislation and government than criminals. Some developmental economists estimate that poor procedure ties up $9.3 Trillion in assets. (Hernando de Soto)
3. Endemic
Some corruption is so prevalent it is considered business as usual by all parties involved. Unfortunately extra legal behavior weakens the institutions and legitimacy of various officials associated with it. In many cases it may be argued
4. Poor pay for officials
In many countries officials are paid so poorly they are expected to supplement their incomes via their office. This can range from law makers to teachers. It is hoped that various countries identify this component of corruption and rectify it with proper pay and expectations of conduct.
5. Limited effective rule of law
Unfortunately the rule of law can be poorly enforced or subject to corrupt interpretation. This unfortunately can lead to the undermining of the state as a legitimate actor or advocate of law and behavior.
4. Where does corruption occur?
Corruption occurs in every country worldwide. The levels of corruption vary. The best source for indicating the level of corruption in any given country is Transparency International.
5. What is a bribe?
According to Webster’s Dictionary:
1. Something, such as money or a favor, offered or given to a person in a position of trust to influence that person's views or conduct.
2. Something serving to influence or persuade.
6. How does BribeWiki work?
People may anonymously post their experiences of paying bribes to public or private officials in exchange or anticipation of behavioral change by that official. Individuals posting information to BribeWiki are requested to refrain from posting names of recipients or givers of bribes. The objective is to indicate the “going” rate for various bribes. It is hoped that various actors in positions of authority will investigate the reported activities to ascertain veracity.
7. What does BribeWiki hope to achieve?
BribeWiki hopes to put daylight on activities that may cause economic harm to others via their illicit nature. In general many forms of payments are made and labeled as consulting fees, facilitation payments and others. BribeWiki believes that any such payments should be public knowledge. As the accepted behaviors and methods vary from culture to culture, if something is OK then a little digital daylight should be OK.
8. Who can participate in BribeWiki?
Anyone from any country or position is welcome to post their findings, to BribeWiki. BribeWiki strives to have a neutral point of view posted without bias or accusations, merely a statement of fact.
9. Is BribeWiki liable for illegal postings?
BribeWiki does not own or endorse the veracity or truthfulness of posts placed on it. BribeWiki is not condoning illegal behavior or in any way encouraging illegal behavior. BribeWiki also believes that unless convicted by a recognized authority all mentions of names or parties are statements of opinion and not fact.
10. What can and should not be said in a BribeWiki posting?
BribeWiki encourages a NPOV (neutral point of view). BribeWiki discourages the act of explicitly or implicitly naming individuals.
11. What rights do I have to change a BribeWiki page, if I believe it is incorrect.
As a wiki, anyone can change a page at almost any time. Various activities will be discouraged, in order to facilitate the main objectives of the site.
12. How does BribeWiki hope to make things better?
BribeWiki only hopes to act as a gathering point of anecdotal evidence. BribeWiki believes that corruption is best solved via proper channels within various countries. It is hoped that via publicity various actors in countries will assume more active roles in minimizing corruption.
13. Who runs BribeWiki?
BribeWiki is currently run Nick Gogerty a private individual who likes to see how technology and people interact on the micro and macro scale.
14. Who started BribeWiki?
Nick Gogerty came up with idea of BribeWiki while traveling in the spring of 2005.
15. Can BribeWiki promise anonymity?
BribeWiki allows people to post anonymously, but cannot guarantee anonymity as various governments can track IP addresses and participants. For those individuals seeking anonymity, various IP anonymizers are available online.
16. Will I be liable for things I post on BribeWiki?
You will be liable for posting on BribeWiki to the same level you would be liable for any online posting. This varies from country to country.
17. Who is BribeWiki intended to help?
BribeWiki is intended to help anyone directly or indirectly affected by corruption.
18. Is BribeWiki a charity?
BribeWiki is currently not set up as a charity, it is a private project. It is believed in the future BribeWiki will be established as a charity with an independent international board of directors.
