Problems of statistical assessment of the level of corruption in Ukraine

Abstract

The purpose of the article is to study the specifics and identify the problems of statistical assessment of the level of corruption in Ukraine. The article defines the essence of corruption and examines the features of assessing its level in modern uncertain conditions in Ukraine. It is established that the main approaches to interpreting corruption reduce it to being understood as a complex and dangerous socio-economic phenomenon that rapidly spreads to various areas of social relations, threatens state interests, resists evaluation, and entails personal enrichment by officials. It is revealed that Ukraine lacks methodological tools for conducting statistical assessments of corruption levels, with calculations being carried out by the international non-governmental organization Transparency International and its Ukrainian office based on data about public perceptions of corruption. It is noted that an increase in corruption levels in Ukraine is observed during periods of intensified socio-political and financial-economic crises as well as deepening macroeconomic instability. The main priorities for ensuring the effectiveness of anti-corruption efforts at the national level are outlined. The most effective institutions in combating corruption in Ukraine are identified as the Office of the President, the President of Ukraine, the Security Service of Ukraine, and the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine. The necessity of developing a unified Methodology for Assessing the Level of Corruption in Ukraine as a comprehensive legally regulated document is proven, with provisions for evaluating corruption at the regional level using quantitative and qualitative criteria. The need for corruption risk assessment and the importance of preventive measures against corruption are substantiated. The article proposes conducting regional assessments of corruption levels to group regions by common corruption characteristics, identify key issues driving corruption, and develop a set of measures to prevent and counteract it.