The Portuguese and Spaniards believe that 50% of businessmen and 2/3 of politicians are corrupt

The Portuguese and Spanish believe that about half of businessmen are corrupt, a view that also affects about two out of every three politicians, according to a joint study of organizations in the two countries.

According to the report, Comparative Perceptions of Corruption in Spain and Portugal, respondents believe that corruption is more common in politics and business, with an estimated 50% of businessmen and 60% to 70% of politicians being corrupt.

As for government officials, 40% of them are believed to be corrupt, according to findings published Friday by the EFE news agency, which is in line with the view among the general population.

When it comes to corruption, the biggest concern is not the giving of bribes, which account for 11% in Spain and 10% in Portugal, compared with the European average of 11%, but rather the interaction between politics and business.

According to the report, 80% of respondents in Portugal and 70% in Spain believe that corruption is part of the country’s business culture rather than something indirect, compared with a European average of 60%.

The findings were presented on Friday by University of Murcia political science professor Fernando Jimenez, University of Lisbon Institute of Social Sciences (ICS-UL) researcher Gustavo Gouvea Maciel and director of the Valencia Anti-Fraud Center. Agency Joan Llinares.

The study was conducted based on two surveys in each country and on a representative sample of the population. The first phase took place between December 2020 and April 2021 and was part of the EPOCA project with funding from the Science and Technology Foundation and scientific coordination from ICS-UL.

The second study was carried out in Spain with the support of the Valencian Anti-Fraud Agency and with the scientific coordination of the University of Murcia.

The aim was to analyze public perceptions of various aspects related to corruption, ethics and the integrity of elements of public life in both countries.

Despite the differences between Portugal and Spain, the study notes that there are common trends that make corruption a worrying issue for both countries, with implications for trust in institutions and democracy, pointing to the need for an adequate policy response.

One of the biggest differences between the two countries relates to clientelism. While in Portugal the percentage of respondents who believe political clientelism is necessary is 70%, in Spain this percentage drops to 49%, close to the European average of 50%.