2013 - 05 - Contemporary crisis - risks and challenge, ISBN: xxxxxx
Athenaeum University - Publications/Volumes/Issuses/Content

COULD THE PRESENT ECONOMIC-FINANCIAL CRISIS GIVE A NEW IMPETUS TO THE FIGHT AGAINST CORRUPTION AND THE UNDERGROUND ECONOMY?

1. Authors:
     • Adrian Ducu MATEI, email: ducumatei@yahoo.com, Afiliation: “Athenaeum” University of Bucharest

   Pages:
     • 31|42

2. Keywords: crisis, underground economy, corruption, sustainable economy.

3. Abstract:
   This paper reveals the main features of corruption and of the underground economy, giving consideration to the fact that a diminution of such phenomena could and should be one to restore the public financial equilibrium in Romania. When in a society the shameless win, when the abuser is admired, when no principles are valued and opportunism is praised, when the insolent lead and people tolerate this, when everything is corrupt and the majority is silent, when there are so many “when”, maybe it’s the time not to hide any longer, to cease the battle, to analyse our activity, to revaluate the people around us and not to retreat inside ourselves. When corruption is systemic, we should counteract the harmful opinion that there is impunity. If not, then our efforts to combat corruption and improve the administration might not be taken seriously. People are cynical before corruption. The citizens, as well the bureaucrats, have heard all these nice words before. They have even seen some minor investigations. But the culture of corruption is persistent, just like the belief that high-ranked people are intangible.