Corruption does not let us grow

2024-06-30 09:04:00, Aktualitet CNA

Illustrative photo, taken from Google

Corruption remains the main concern of businesses run by both women and men, according to a survey conducted by "Monitor" on its website through the ECR (Engaged Citizens Reporting) platform.

The survey was completed by 503 respondents, about 35% of whom were female.

80% of the women surveyed by "Monitor" said that corruption is an obstacle for investments

80% of women surveyed said that corruption is an obstacle for their investments. The same percentage is for the answers given by male entrepreneurs.

It is an unwritten norm in Albania that if you don't pay, you don't finish the job. The perception of women is that they are "corrupted" less and therefore they are reluctant to ask for bribes.

54% of female entrepreneurs claimed to have been asked to pay a bribe at least once in the past 12 months, compared to 76% who responded in this way from businesses run by men.

52% of respondents who had been asked for a bribe said it ranged between 10-20% of the contract value.

Source: Monitor survey

But when you don't finish work, you have to pay. "After 16 years of fighting not to pay the corruption fees that are displayed, I surrendered. I am advising the client to pay them", says an economist from Shkodra, in the anonymous comments on the platform.

Entrepreneurs comment that corruption hinders growth, as they step in the realization of investments.

"Corruption, for me personally, does not allow me to grow professionally, since the type of business I do is directly related to local government institutions and they give priority in time and quality only to their businesses or those chosen by them", says one entrepreneurs in the service sector in Tirana.

"We are afraid for the future and for the growth of the business", affirms a young entrepreneur who operates in the "Accommodation and food service" sector, classified in enterprises with 10-49 employees.

Step corruption and foreigners. "The company is part of a foreign group. The perception of the lack of fair competition, which is favored by the high level of corruption, prevents the decision-makers of foreign companies from increasing investment in Albania, says an entrepreneur from Durrës, in the trade sector, with 10-49 employees.

Total results

The results of the "Monitor" survey with 503 respondents show that corruption is perceived as a very alarming issue and a growing phenomenon in Albania.

More than 90% of the respondents think that corruption is a very alarming issue, while 77% of them estimate that corruption has increased a lot in the last five years. 69% of respondents think that the fight against corruption has not shown progress in recent years.

However, most think that the Justice Reform has begun to yield results. Citizens' perception is that the central government is the most corrupt segment./ Monitor.al