P059. How Public Administration Reforms affect the Corruption Perspectives in Greece

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Abstract

Greece is undergoing significant reforms aimed at creating a more sustainable public sector. Recent crises have threatened the state's viability, and extensive corruption perceptions remain high, impacting trust in public institutions and policies. Corruption is primarily measured through perception due to its concealed nature, making it debatable what these perceptions specifically refer to.
The type and depth of the reforms may be debatable, but those targeting the public sector likely influence corruption perceptions. The question is how these reforms affect the perception of public sector corruption in the country. This correlation between reforms and corruption perception has not been studied yet. Understanding this correlation will help design better reforms, addressing their intended or unintended effects on corruption perceptions and creating more effective anti-corruption strategies.
The methodology includes a case study on the Independent Authority of Public Revenue, which is implementing reforms to increase efficiency and effectiveness. A review of these reforms, compared to corruption perceptions measured through Transparency International and Eurobarometer data sets, indicates the impact of reforms on corruption perceptions over the last 10 years. Additionally, field research through questionnaires to 200 Greek enterprises and interviews with enterprises and stakeholders provides in-depth analysis and justification of these perceptions in conjunction with reforms.
Findings will be analysed and framed through policy theories like New Institutionalism, Rational Choice, Public Interest, and Public Choice to better understand the impact of reforms on specific corruption phenomena perceptions.

Author

• MA KONDYLIDOU, PhD Candidate, Department of Political Science and International Relations, University of the Peloponnese, Greece