The Genesis and Impact of Anti-corruption Policies in Portugal: A Preliminary Assessment of Corruption Risk Management Plans

Purpose:

The purpose of this paper is to assess the impact of public services and corporations’ corruption risk management plans on international perceptions of corruption in Portugal and on the detection and court conviction of corruption behaviours.

Design/Methods/Approach:

This research assumed that political systems, institutions and social groups, and the variety of forms in which individuals interact with them play a major role in corruption behaviours. Corruption risk management plans have formed part of the Portuguese anti-corruption strategy since 2009 and their design and implementation has been politically and socially contextualised. Official data on corruption provided by governmental and non-governmental agencies and covering the period between 2001 and 2014 were used to identify corruption trends before and after implementation of the plans.

Findings:

Existing data suggest that, at least until 2014, the corruption risk management plans had no impact on international perceptions of corruption in Portugal, or on the detection and court conviction of corruption cases.

Research Limitations / Implications:

The outcome of a single anti-corruption measure, such as the plans, is difficult to identify and isolate since several other measures are activated or remain active during the same time period, as do several social, political, economic or cultural factors. This first and preliminary assessment will have to be followed by a more in-depth, qualitative analysis.

Originality/Value:

This paper highlights the need to assess the outcomes of every anti-corruption measure. The corruption risk management plans are a time- and resource-consuming measure that must be further tested with regard to its social and political benefits.

UDC: 343.352

Keywords: corruption, corruption risk management plans, crime prevention