OPTIONS FOR QUANTITATION PUBLIC SECTOR CORRUPTION IN SLOVAKIA AND IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC

Corruption is currently one of the most serious problems. It is considered a negative social phenomenon of modern society with an unimaginable impact on the economy of the state. Corruption is present in many areas of human activity, has penetrated into various areas of social life and can have many forms and variations. It is not a problem just in Slovakia; many other countries have to cope with the same complications. This is one of the most important problems in all segments of the national economy. As expenditures in trade and in the third sector is rising due to corruption, investment and consequently the rate of economic growth in the country is slowing down. On the other hand, countries that can demonstrate a high level of transparency have better conditions for entrepreneurship and the lives of citizens using public services. It is therefore necessary to take precautionary measures against such persistent behavior by individuals and groups that have the power to influence public affairs and their actions affect the entire public sector. In our view, informing people about the level of corruption in the public sector is an effective tool. However, its detection and social repression are very difficult. The forms and methods in which corruption were manifested are so different that finding an effective and simple solution is not easy. However, without a list of suitable indicators, it is not possible to measure the economic impact of corruption on the national economy. The aim of the work was to find ways to quantify corruption in the Slovak public sector and partly also in the Czech Republic by examining available indicators. Based on our research, we were trying to propose a comprehensive list of indicators that monitor corruption in the public sector. In the context of the selected methodology, we first mentioned the general characteristics of public sector corruption and its causes. We went to the possibilities of measuring corruption in the public sector in Slovakia and the Czech Republic and considered the advantages and weaknesses of the various indicators from a methodological point of view. In the final part, we summarized the reached knowledge as a feedback and suggestion for further examination of the problem. In addition to the relevant domestic and foreign literature, we have worked with relevant legislation, with official data and statistics available on the internet in meeting the goal. From the scientific work methods, we have used a comparison of theoretical views on corruption in the public sector and its implications, the analysis of primary sources and synthesis. As long as there are no clear indicators for measuring corruption in the public sector, in our view, it is not possible to quantify its economic impact on the national economy. To measure corruption in the public sector through specific indicators, we consider it a challenge in the coming years of our work.