Corruption as an Obstacle to International Development: The Macedonian Case

It is generally known that high corruption level in the country seriously endanger development, by reducing the reputation of a country and hindering incentives for local and foreign investments.It also victimises society as a whole, by slowing economic growth, increasing poverty, lowering the quality of public services and infrastructures, draining off scarce public resources to the detriment of the poor, the weak and all others in need of help and assistance. As a result it undermines the credibility of political representation, influences decision-making processes and leaves public institutions unarmed and powerless, destabilising democratic systems. Having regarded the globalization of this problem, the international community continues to straighten its efforts for curbing corruption. It has been realized that the effects of combating corruption taken by each country separately will not be efficient without international cooperation between the competent bodies.Within the process of establishing appropriate and efficient mechanisms for strengthening the capacities and combating against this international security problem it is necessary to involve different experts who will be able to introduce an inter-disciplinary approach.This paper was presented at the 17th international conference of the International Trade and Finance Association, Miami, Florida, May 2007.