1. Corruption costs the global economy over $3 trillion each year.

2. Transparency International ranks countries by corruption perception every year.

3. About 70% of people believe corruption is widespread in their country. 4. The phrase “money talks” reflects how bribes influence decisions.

5. Political corruption can lead to economic inequality and social unrest.

6. In 2009, a whistleblower exposed corruption in the world’s largest bank.

7. The U.S. enacted the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act in 1977.

8. Ghost workers—nonexistent employees—cost governments millions yearly.

9. Anti-corruption efforts doubled worldwide between 2000 and 2020.

10. Major sports events often face corruption scandals, like the FIFA World Cup.

Burning Questions

1. What does corruption mean to you in your daily life?
2. Have you ever seen or heard about corruption in your community?
3. How do you think corruption affects people’s trust in government?
4. Can you share an example of a global issue that is related to corruption?
5. Why do you think some people choose to engage in corrupt activities?
6. How can communities work together to fight against corruption?
7. Do you believe it is possible to completely eliminate corruption? Why or why not?
8. How important is transparency in preventing corruption?
9. In what ways can education help reduce corruption in society?
10. How do you feel when you hear news stories about corruption?

Essential Vocabulary on Corruption.

corruption
bribery
scandal
transparency
accountability
fraud
to fight against corruption
to expose corruption
to report bribery
to investigate scandals
public trust
ethical standards
government officials
a slippery slope
to turn a blind eye
to sweep under the rug

Essential Vocabulary on Corruption

• Corruption: The abuse of entrusted power for personal gain, often involving bribery or fraud.
• Bribery: The act of giving or receiving something of value, typically money, to influence the actions of an official or other person in a position of authority.
• Scandal: An action or event that causes public outrage or shock due to perceived unethical or immoral behavior.
• Transparency: The quality of being open and honest about activities, decisions, and processes, fostering accountability and reducing corruption.
• Accountability: The obligation of individuals or organizations to explain their actions and take responsibility for their behavior, particularly in governance.
• Fraud: Wrongful or criminal deception intended to secure financial or personal gain.
• To fight against corruption: Engaging in actions aimed at reducing or eliminating corrupt practices within systems or institutions.
• To expose corruption: The act of revealing corrupt practices, often against the wishes of those involved, to promote awareness and change.
• To report bribery: Informing authorities about instances of bribery, helping to hold offenders accountable.
• To investigate scandals: Conducting inquiries into events or actions that have caused public outrage to uncover the truth and prevent future occurrences.
• Public trust: The confidence that citizens have in their government or institutions to act in their best interest without corruption.
• Ethical standards: Principles that guide behavior, ensuring actions are conducted with fairness, integrity, and respect.
• Government officials: Individuals holding positions of authority in the government, responsible for making and enforcing laws and policies.
• A slippery slope: A situation in which a small action or decision can lead to significant negative consequences, particularly in the context of ethical behavior.
• To turn a blind eye: Choosing to ignore or overlook unethical actions or behaviors, often to avoid dealing with them.
• To sweep under the rug: To conceal or ignore a problem or issue rather than addressing it openly.

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