Source: Blic
Exactly three years ago in the summer of 2004, a text by Daniel Kaufmann, a World Bank expert, drew great attention and caused a real ''fuss'' the among those engaged in fighting corruption. The text ''Reevaluation of the System: Empirical Lectures against Orthodoxy'' was an extremely rigorous criticism of the orthodox, traditional concept of fighting the corruption, and the reactions it caused, shook the very foundations of this concept. The main thesis was that the traditional approach to the anti-corruption reforms based on repressive measures, introducing stricter sanctions, passing new laws and reform of the jurisdiction could not give the required results, that it was unsuccessful.The criticism was not abstract, it was backed up also by proven information from several countries from various parts of the world, with different economic, social and political contexts. This information shows that the corruption rate reacts best to transparency in work and access to information about the work of the authorities to the citizens and mass media, i.e. public. It is therefore suggested that anti-corruption results should primarily be looked for on this level. Wherever it was applied, the Kaufmann's ''recipe'' gave results. Numerous discretionary authorizations and disposal with public goods which the authorities perform far away from the eyes of the public ''guarantee'' that the same would happen here too. However, naturally, only if we actually and consistently apply the recipe. Rodoljub Sabic, the Commissioner for Information.
