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View Full Version : Six billion spent on "macuteo"



NewsWhore
07-13-2007, 03:30 PM
In 2006 Dominicans spent RD$6 billion in "macuteos" or small bribes, according to findings in the National Study on the Cost of Corruption for Dominican Households carried out by Gallup and financed by USAID. The services that required the most "grease" was to assist those seeking documentation to travel abroad, for which Dominicans paid RD$2 billion. Getting someone out of jail or avoiding jail time cost Dominicans RD$842 million and obtaining birth and death certificates cost RD$341 million in small bribes. The study also highlighted payments that were made to obtain drinking water, check the electricity meter, get a cedula, a good conduct certificate, acquire a passport or get a loan at the bank. The study also indicated that 2.1% of a household's monthly salary is allotted to those macuteos, or RD$2,856 per month for services that are supposedly free. The poll was taken from 1 March 2007 and 28 March 2007 and the study has a 2.37% margin of error. The study was conducted nationwide.

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