Corruption and Illegal Payments in Greece

Abstract

The phenomenon of corruption is global and extends in many areas of the public sector. However, in Greece it appears to be socially acceptable since in the case of illegal benefits and pensions, the corruption of the public officials takes place with the collaboration of the citizens who receive such pensions and allowances. It should be noted that in Greece the phenomenon has not been fully recorded since the only information available can be derived from the Press due to the publicity that such cases take and because of the large sums of money involved and the great damage they cause to the public sector. The fact is that this phenomenon is an important proof for the social fostering of corruption and that it is motivated by the pursuit of illicit enrichment both by the public officials and the citizens.