Economic and social aspects of corruption

The aim of the article is to present multidimensional analyses and deliberations that bring us closer to better understanding the corrupt practices that commonly occur in everyday economic reality. Particular attention was paid to the economic and social aspects of the corrupt behaviors which are considered, taking into account the main goals of corruption and the accompanying results. At the beginning of the work, the essence and aims of corruption were characterized, and also the author’s own definition of this phenomenon was formulated in a broad sense, according to a pragmatic approach to the analyzed problem. The consequence of the adopted research approach is that corruption has been divided into two categories – crimes and legal corruption. An important element of the analysis is the perception of corruption as a network of influences, connections and dependencies which are a consequence of actions developed in practice and the behaviors of the people in charge of the authorities. Another topic was devoted to financial benefits, which should be interpreted as an economic dimension and a basic determinant for all forms of corruption. In this part of the study, specific processes and decisions for achieving measurable financial benefits by a selected group of beneficiaries were thoroughly discussed and explained. In order to strengthen the formulated theses, remarks and conclusions, the results from the audit carried out by the Supreme Audit Office were additionally used. The findings included in the report of the Supreme Audit Office also served as an important argument for the assessment of specific behaviors in terms of public officials bearing responsibility for activities that are a conscious act of using power for their own particular interests. In the further part of the article, the assumptions and objectives of the anticorruption policy of the government included in the program documents for years 2014–2019, as well as the new version of the anti-corruption strategy for years 2018–2020, were subjected to a critical analysis. Finally, the author presented selected information included in the annual Central Anti-corruption Agency report and a few reflections summing up the process of combating corruption in Poland