PUBLIC PERCEPTIONS OF CORRUPTION IN ETHIOPIA: ASSESSMENT AND DESCRIPTIVE ANALYSIS

Berhanu Mengistu Old Dominion University

Seid Hassan Murray State University

Tilahun Teklu Addis Ababa University 

ABSTRACT

Using several themes of corrupting practices, this study attempted to assess the status and corrosive nature of corruption in Ethiopia through the lenses of public officials and other relevant communities of Addis Ababa, the capital city of Ethiopia. Survey respondents, inter alia, believe that favoritism and nepotism are ubiquitous, all the key government institutions listed in the survey are corrupt and that the Ethiopian political-economic system is opaque in that politically appointed officials and party leaders are in charge of both state-owned and party- owned conglomerates–the same officials directing government contracts and loans to political party owned conglomerates. The authors of this study believe the respondents’ perceptions of the pervasive nature of Ethiopia’s corruption have important policy and administrative implications   to all stakeholders such as Ethiopian government and its people, donor nations, multinational institutions, international business community and those who are working against the scourge of corruption globally.