How to Combat Corruption: Assessing Anti-Corruption Measures from a Civil Servant’s Perspective

Abstract

The Baltic States have overhauled legislation to detect wrongdoing and conducted anti-corruption campaigns. However, little attention has been given to the evaluation of the effectiveness of the measures and the possible trade-offs in relation to democracy and the rule of law. On the basis of more than 1,500 interviews, civil servants’ perception of the effectiveness of increased detection, punishment for corrupt officials, and conducting campaigns and ethical training are mapped. Across the three countries, the civil servants find an increase in punishment most effective and recommendable although campaigns and ethical training should not be overlooked. Furthermore, it is found that civil servants’ perception of anti-corruption measures is influenced by their sensitivity to the extent of misuse within their country and gender in addition to national differences between the countries.