| Conducting Business Ethically & Transparently (CBET)
is a program funded by the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation
and administered by CCI. Today, Russia is in the midst of
a historic transition to a democratic government with a
free-market economy. To the detriment of both businesses
and consumers, however, corruption is an impediment to economic
success. Corrupt bureaucrats use their powers to demand
bribes, withhold licenses, and impede entitlements; extortion
tactics are commonplace. The loss of money and other resources
to this type of corruption results in rising costs, lower
quality goods and services, and a lack of trust in the marketplace.
Something must be done to achieve results in the fight against
corruption, else Russia's burgeoning market economy will
not be able to stabilize. Although there are promising signs
from Putin's administration to address these problems institutionally,
Russians cannot wait for top-down reforms. |
