CORRUPTION BENCHMARKING IN SERBIA

Report prepared for UNDP Serbia

Report prepared by CeSID DOO, Belgrade

June 2013

2

METHODOLOGICAL REMARKS

Research realised byPublic opinion research agency CeSID

and UNDP Serbia

Field work Period between June 01 and 08, 2013

Type and sample sizeRandom, representative sample made out of 610 citizens of Serbia aged over

18

Sample frame Polling station territory, as the most

reliable unit of registry

Household selection Random sampling with no substitutions – every other house addresses within

the polling station area

Selection of interviewees within households

Random sampling with no substitutions – selection of interviewees by the first

birthday method in relation to the survey day

Research technique Face to face, within the household

Research instrument Questionnaire

3

SOCIO-ECONOMIC SITUATION IN THE COUNTRY - EXPECTATIONS OF SERBIAN CITIZENS

Optimism of Serbian citizens still remains at last December's level. However, for the first time in the last three years since the UNDP is doing the surveys, two consecutive researches resulted with less than half of pessimists among the interviewees.

Doesn’t know

Into right direction

Into wrong direction

10%

25%

65%

14%

19%

67%

16%

22%

62%

13%

16%

71%

23%

32%

45%

19%

32%

49%

2013 jun2012 dec2012 jun2011 nov2010 oct2010 mar2009 oct

4

How would you evaluate your current living conditions?

52% of interviewees claim that their living conditions are poor or even unbearable right now.It's very important to note that citizens don't base their optimism on the current economic situation. This is an indicator that a good part of the public is aware that reforms that bring better life cannot arrive overnight!

2009 oktobar

2010 mart

2010 oktobar

2011 novembar

2012 jun

2012 decembar

2013 jun

1%

1%

3%

1%

1%

0%

1%

2%

1%

0%

1%

0%

1%

1%

11%

10%

14%

12%

9%

10%

9%

37%

37%

39%

35%

31%

45%

37%

38%

38%

34%

45%

45%

31%

36%

11%

13%

10%

6%

14%

13%

16%

Doesn`t know

Exceptionally good

Fairly good

Bearable

Bad

Unbearable

5

WHAT ARE THE KEY PROBLEMS?

There are no major changes in the ranking of problems the public in Serbia is facing.

Corruption still comes second with 15% of citizens who single it out as the key problem of Serbia.

The result confirms that the awareness of citizens related to damages of corruption is very high, as they mostly complain about poor living standards and economic hardships.

Citizens are aware of the damage corruption causes, and they want the issue resolved!

Pensions

Kosovo and Metohija

Health care

Poor education system

Relations with Europe and the EU

Crime and security

Feeble and inefficient insti-tutions

Low salaries

Lack of opportunities for young people

Poverty

Corruption

Unemployment

3%

1%

2%

2%

3%

9%

2%

7%

7%

23%

11%

29%

3%

1%

2%

1%

1%

7%

3%

9%

8%

21%

8%

35%

4%

1%

2%

2%

3%

4%

2%

10%

9%

23%

7%

32%

2%

1%

1%

3%

1%

4%

2%

7%

5%

21%

12%

41%

3%

1%

2%

1%

1%

3%

1%

9%

5%

23%

9%

40%

1%

1%

2%

2%

2%

3%

3%

6%

7%

14%

15%

44%

1%

0%

1%

2%

1%

3%

4%

6%

6%

15%

15%

44%

2013 jun

2012 dec

2012 jun

2011 nov

2010 oct

2010 mar

2009 oct

THE INCIDENCE OF CORRUPTION

Who paid, how much, to whom and why?

7

THE INCIDENCE OF CORRUPTION

The number of direct and indirect experiences with corruption is a bit higher in comparison to the end of last year. However, the numbers are still

significantly smaller in comparison to the period between 2009 and June 2012.

okt.

09

mar.

10

okt.

10

nov.

11

jun

.12

dec.1

2

jun

.13

okt.

09

mar.

10

okt.

10

nov.

11

jun

.12

dec.1

2

jun

.13

Indirect experience Direct experience

38%

33% 34%

39%

35%

20%

26%

15% 16%

13%11%

14%

8%

11%

8

WHO GOT PAID?

Doctors, police and clerks in pubic administration remain at the top of the list, but these are who citizens come in contact with most.

Docto

r

Policem

an

Clerk

with

pub

lic a

dmin

istra

tion

Prose

cuto

r

Someo

ne else

Teach

er/p

rofe

ssor

Tax o

fficia

l

Custo

ms

Judg

e

Attorn

ey/la

wye

r

Comm

unal

serv

ices

25%

19%

9%5%

12%9%

3% 3%5%

3%7%

47%

15% 14%

5% 5% 4% 4% 4%1% 1% 1%

dec.12 jun.13

9

WHAT IS A REASON FOR PAYING A BRIBE?

The higher incidence is a result of more frequent solicitation of bribes. However, the main sources of corruption are the very citizens themselves.

The average bribe amounted to 205 euros, which is higher than in the two previous research cycles.

I w

as d

irectl

y a

sk

ed

to p

ay 2

2

I off

ere

d t

o p

ay i

n o

rder

to a

void

p

rob

lem

s w

ith

rele

van

t in

div

id-u

als

I off

ere

d b

rib

e t

o o

bta

in c

ert

ain

serv

ices

I w

as d

irectl

y a

sk

ed

to p

ay 2

2

I off

ere

d t

o p

ay i

n o

rder

to a

void

p

rob

lem

s w

ith

rele

van

t in

div

id-u

als

I off

ere

d b

rib

e t

o o

bta

in c

ert

ain

serv

ices

Indirect experience Direct experience

27%17%

56%

19% 24%

57%

10

PERCEPTION OF CORRUPTION – BEST RESULTS YET

29% of citizens believe that the level of corruption has decreased in the previous year, which is the best result so far. Citizens of Serbia value the results in the fight against

corruption that were accomplished in the past 12 months.

2009 oct

2010 mar

2010 oct

2011 nov

2012 jun

2012 dec

2013 jun

8%

9%

8%

7%

9%

10%

10%

19%

25%

10%

23%

24%

8%

7%

22%

20%

23%

25%

24%

12%

11%

40%

38%

47%

35%

35%

45%

43%

11%

7%

12%

10%

8%

24%

27%

0%

1%

0%

0%

1%

2%

doesn’t know/no answer

grew signif-icantly

grew a little

remained the same

decreased a little

decreased a lot

11

WHERE IS CORRUPTION HEADED IN THE NEXT 12 MONTHS?

One in three citizens of Serbia expects that the level of corruption will further decrease in the coming year, while 15% say that the corruption will be on the rise! The decline signals that the further increase in trust among citizens mostly depends upon efforts the relevant bodies put into the continued fight against corruption.

2009 oct

2010 mar

2010 oct

2011 nov

2012 jun

2012 dec

2013 jun

9%

10%

14%

11%

9%

13%

15%

14%

14%

8%

16%

19%

4%

7%

18%

19%

17%

21%

21%

9%

8%

41%

45%

43%

38%

36%

33%

37%

16%

12%

17%

13%

12%

34%

28%

1%

0%

1%

1%

3%

7%

5%

doesn’t know/no an-swerwill grow significantly

will grow a little

will remain the same

will decrease a little

will decrease a lot

12

CORRUPTION IS LURKING FROM...?

According to citizens, political parties have been most corrupted part of the system for years now. The judiciary and health care system are constantly at the top of the list, joined by the police.

All the above listed institutions are facing one big problem: how to regain the citizens' trust in their work?

City/adminis-tration

Customs

Attorneys/lawyers

Police

Prosecutors

Judges

Health care

Political parties

55%

72%

66%

65%

65%

70%

78%

76%

55%

62%

68%

65%

66%

70%

70%

80%

52%

63%

67%

57%

67%

68%

73%

74%

55%

63%

63%

63%

64%

67%

74%

76%

64%

66%

62%

64%

67%

69%

74%

77%

51%

52%

60%

56%

63%

64%

69%

72%

51%

62%

62%

65%

65%

67%

68%

72%

2009 oct

2010 mar

2010 oct

2011 nov

2012 jun

2012 dec

2013 jun

13

LEVELS OF CORRUPTION IN THE KEY INSTITUTIONS?

Judging by the interviewees' answers, quite high!

However, the Government, the President, the Parliament, and the army are ranked much better in comparison to one year ago! The Government of the Republic of Serbia is the only

institution where the level of corruption has not increased in relation to the December research.

Army

President of State

Government

Parliament/leg-islation

23%

43%

61%

62%

23%

44%

66%

65%

27%

36%

63%

60%

25%

45%

67%

63%

32%

47%

69%

65%

13%

24%

47%

44%

16%

29%

47%

48%2009 oct

2010 mar

2010 oct

2011 nov

2012 jun

2012 dec

2013 jun

14

SOURCES OF INFORMATION ON CORRUPTION

Due to the fact that direct and indirect experiences with corruption are found among less than two fifths of citizens, it should not be surprising that the media represents the main

source of information about corruption.

Mediji Čujem Prijatelji, rodbina Lično iskustvo Drugi izvori

66%

34% 35%

13%

2%

60%

38%31%

13%

1%

dec.12 jun.13

15

WOULD YOU GIVE A BRIBE IF SOLICITED?

Citizens do feel that the fight against corruption is going on and there is a growing number of them who would not pay the demanded bribe! In this research cycle, almost one in two citizens (46%) said they would not pay the bribe the private or state clerk/employee would ask from them.

Willingness to report corruption to relevant bodies is still low.

I’d report it to media

Wouldn’t do a thing, would wait for situation to change

I’d report it to administration

I’d pay if I had the money

I’d report the case to bodies that implement the law

I’d look for someone to help me, without paying the bribe

I’d not pay

9%

9%

14%

24%

16%

30%

37%

5%

8%

11%

20%

15%

37%

33%

6%

8%

10%

18%

13%

30%

33%

8%

10%

10%

15%

13%

29%

33%

7%

11%

11%

17%

11%

26%

33%

4%

9%

14%

18%

24%

34%

40%

7%

14%

14%

17%

18%

32%

46%

2013 jun

2012 dec

2012 jun

2011 nov

2010 oct

2010 mar

2009 oct

16

WHO SHOULD LEAD THE FIGHT AGAINST CORRUPTION?

The Government of the Republic of Serbia has definitely taken over the lead in the fight against corruption!

The Government is at the top of the list and decrease in trust in "competing" institutions that are

directly responsible for the fight against corruption, leads us to two conclusions: a) Citizens believe that corruption represents one of the key issues in Serbia that only the institution

with the strongest authority can face; b) Citizens recognise the Government as the institution that announced and began the fight against

corruption, and expects it to finish the task.

Commissioner for information of public importance and personal data protection

NGOs

Special elite forces

State audit institution

Parliament

President

Ombudsman

Citizens (associations of citizens)

Judiciary

Anti-Corruption Agency

Police

Government

1%

1%

7%

3%

3%

4%

2%

11%

24%

13%

47%

46%

1%

1%

5%

5%

6%

9%

2%

18%

37%

26%

49%

41%

1%

2%

3%

3%

3%

5%

10%

19%

27%

35%

39%

43%

jun.13dec.12jun.12

17

WHAT IS THE BEST WAY FOR FIGHTING CORRUPTION?

Corruption and crime must be punished!

Raised salaries for public administration employees

Transparency in administrative decision making

Enforced control of civil sector (NGOs) over public administration

Raising the level of awareness on corruption

Strengthening of state control over public adminis-tration

Improved legislation (new anti-corruption law, in-ternational conventions)

Harsh legal sanctions

22%

35%

45%

52%

54%

54%

75%

25%

37%

41%

50%

52%

49%

70%

21%

32%

36%

40%

45%

42%

58%

30%

38%

41%

46%

48%

49%

66%

21%

40%

43%

47%

47%

44%

71%

33%

45%

51%

60%

61%

69%

79%

24%

39%

47%

53%

62%

64%

81%

2013 jun2012 dec2012 jun2011 nov2010 oct2010 mar2009 oct

18

HOW EFFICIENT IS THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA IN FIGHTING CORRUPTION

Pretty much!

The Government's efficiency in the fight against corruption is increasingly ranked higher by citizens, from cycle to cycle! At this moment, a total of 64% of citizens believe that the

Government is efficient in its effort to decrease the level of corruption in Serbia!

Doesn’t know/NA Very efficient Little efficient Mostly inefficient Not efficient at all

8%

2%

32%

23%

35%

11%9%

49%

22%

9%9% 11%

53%

21%

6%

2012 jun 2012 decembar 2013 jun

PERCEPTION OF THE WORK OF THE ANTI-CORRUPTION AGENCY

20

RECOGNIZING THE ANTI-CORRUPTION AGENCY

At this moment, 77% of Serbian citizens are familiar with the Agency's work, and that confirms the very good result from the previous research cycle!

2010 mar 2010 oct 2011 nov 2012 jun 2012 dec 2013 jun

60%65% 63%

75% 77% 77%

21

THE AGENCY’S CONTRIBUTION TO THE FIGHT AGAINST CORRUPTION

Similar to recognisability of its work, the Agency's contribution in the fight against corruption is at a mild standstill in relation to the previous research cycle. At this moment, 60% of interviewees believe that the Agency contributes to a certain extent to the fight against corruption.

Good news is that, from cycle to cycle, a larger number of citizens believe that the Agency should carry the burden of the fight against corruption. It remains to the Agency to meet the expectations and trust of citizens.

None

A little

Partial

Significant

Doesn’t know/NA

20%

29%

15%

2%

33%

14%

32%

24%

3%

28%

13%

36%

22%

2%

27%

20%

38%

19%

3%

20%

10%

35%

24%

5%

26%

12%

31%

24%

5%

28%

2013 jun2012 dec2012 jun2011 nov2010 oct2010 mar

THANK YOU