Current Status and Trends of Private Sector Corruption

The article presents the criminological characteristics of private sector corruption in the Ukraine for 2013-2018. In particular, its level, structure and dynamics are established. The results of national and foreign studies on private sector corruption in Ukraine are analyzed. The negative tendencies of the development of this phenomenon were identified and some problems of counteracting this kind of crime were identified. The author notes that a significant number of corruption offenses in the private sector are registered annually in Ukraine, but at the same time a very small number of convictions for these crimes are recorded. In particular, over the last six years (2013-2018), 3 712 such crimes were recorded and 779 persons were found to have committed them. During the same period, only 323 individuals were convicted of private sector corruption crimes. Negative dynamics of the level of sentencing for investigated crimes were also recorded. In the structure of corruption crimes in the private sector, abuse of powers by persons providing public services (47%) and abuse of power by an official of a private legal entity irrespective of organizational and legal form (38%) prevail. In addition, the author analyzes conducted studies that directly or indirectly provide an opportunity to assess the current state and trends of corruption in the private sector. The discrepancy between official statistics and the results of the conducted research was established. Based on the conducted research, the author concludes that the high level of corruption in the private sector in Ukraine and the low efficiency of the state system to counteract this kind of crime.