Corruption and Its Social and Economic Impact on Society: Iraq as a case study

Abstract

According to the United Nations corruption is defined as: the abuse of public power to achieve personal gains. While the International World Bank defines it as:the abuse of public office to achieve personal gains. Corruptionexists in the performance of public office and its public employee, who is defined as: everyone who works in the public organization, and aims to achieve the benefit and goals of this organization to fulfill the General Satisfaction. The spread of corruption in any society leads toimpeding economic growth, declining the economic development, as well as weakening the state, and raising political instability. Iraq is considered one of the most corrupted countries, as it occupiesthe first rank in the list of International Transparency organization, in its report on the corruption index for 2007, out of the (163) state.