Corruption: Main Dangers to Economic and Political Stability and Root Causes

Abstract

In China, corruption mainly refers to crimes of corruption and bribery as stipulated in Articles 382 and 394, embezzlement (Articles 382 and 383), misappropriation of public funds (Article 384), accepting a bribe (Articles 385 and 386), a unit accepting a bribe (Article 387), accepting a bribe in mediation (Article 388), offering a bribe (Articles 389 and 390), offering a bribe to a unit (Article 391), offering a bribe for recommendation (Article 392), a unit offering a bribe (Article 392 and 393), accepting a gift without transferring it to the public (Article 394), possession of unexplained property (Article 395, sub‐paragraph 1), concealing overseas bank deposits (Article 395, sub‐paragraph 1), illegally distributing state‐owned assets (Article 396, sub‐paragraph 1) and illegally distributing confiscated property (Article 396, sub‐paragraph 2) in Chapter VIII on Crimes of Corruption and Bribery in the Chinese criminal law. The essential feature of this category of crimes is that they include the worst cases, endangering economic and political stability, where state functionaries, taking advantage of their position and power, not only illegally transfer ownership of property, but also compromise the reputation of the civil service.