Corruption in Turkey

Corruption in Turkey is an issue affecting the accession of Turkey to the European Union. In 2014, Turkey was ranked 64th of 175 countries on Transparency International's Corruption Perceptions Index.

The 1998 Türkbank scandal led to a no-confidence vote and the resignation of Prime Minister Mesut Yılmaz. Although Yılmaz was investigated by Parliament, a five-year statute of limitations prevented further action. On 17 December 2013, the sons of three Turkish ministers and many prominent businesspeople were arrested and accused of corruption.

Anti-Corruption legislation includes Turkey's Criminal Code which criminalizes various forms of corrupt activity, including active and passive bribery, attempted corruption, extortion, bribing a foreign official, money laundering and abuse of office. Nevertheless, anti-corruption laws are poorly enforced, and anti-corruption authorities are deemed ineffective.

Corruption has slowed business activity and the growth of the Turkish economy. Practices indicative of corruption include bribery, embezzlement, theft and fraud.

Corruption affects the institutional structures promoting growth in Turkey:

Economic development is the increase in standard of living and economic health of a country, reflected in its Human Development Index. For a country to develop economically it must invest in capital goods, such as infrastructure, health care and education. Unlike consumer goods, which promote immediate wealth for a nation, capital goods promote future development and a higher standard of living.

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