Mexicans paid $2.77 billion in bribes and 'tips' in 2010 - report

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Mexicans paid $2.77 billion in bribes and 'tips' in 2010 - report

2011-05-11 21:19:03 GMT+7 (ICT)

MEXICO CITY (BNO NEWS) -- Mexican nationals paid 32 billion Mexican pesos ($2.77 billion) in small bribes and 'tips' in 2010 to have access or 'facilitate' transactions in public services, according to a study conducted by Transparencia Mexicana (Mexican Transparency) released on Wednesday.

According to the report, "National Index of Corruption and Good Governance," small bribes and tips, which are commonly referred as 'mordidas,' or 'bites,' are given in over 10 percent of every public service transaction carried out in Mexico in order for the process to go through or to speed up the paperwork.

The 32 billion Mexican pesos ($2.77 billion) in bribes represents an 18.5 percent increase compared to the previous 2007 report in which 27 billion pesos ($2.33 billion) were paid. Meanwhile, the average bribe in 2010 was worth $165 pesos ($14), compared to $138 pesos ($12) in 2007. In average, 14 percent of Mexican salaries end up being used to pay bribes or give 'tips.'

The most common bribes occur during traffic violations (68 percent), of which 60 percent were related to parking tickets and 59 percent were to avoid a vehicle taken to the pound. In addition, 28 percent of customs procedures were carried out with some sort of bribe, while 23 percent of public ministry procedures involved bribery. The report also showed that 22 percent of informal commerce such as selling goods and services at streets were allowed to conduct business after paying bribes.

Other regular transactions involving bribes and tips included basic public services and procedures such as receiving emergency medical treatment at a clinic or hospital, filing paperwork at schools, including scholarships and exams, obtaining credit loans, getting hired at a government office, receiving water, electricity, and telephone services, obtaining a driver's license, business permits, vehicle paperwork, obtaining a passport and a military service card, among others.

The study surveyed 15,326 homes throughout the country's 32 states, and according to the organization's counselor, Federico Reyes Heroles, corruption mostly affected Mexican nationals with low-end salaries.

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