Evaluating Citizen Attitudes about Corruption in Chile

In 2002 and 2003, a series of corruption scandals erupted in Chile—including the bribery of legislators and government officials to obtain licenses for vehicle refitting plants,sobresueldos(overpayments) to public officials, and the use of the Public Works Ministry (MOP) to raise campaign funds. These events unfolded in the least corrupt country in Latin America, according to Transparency International’s 2005 Bribe Payer’s Index (BPI) (see fig. 7.1). While the scandals were relatively minor by Latin American standards—involving sums of just $13,500 and $20,000 compared to $5 million in a Senate bribery scandal in Argentina (see Bermúdez and Gasparini