Myths and Realities about Corruption in Public Administration and its Discourse in Greece

In Greece, public administration receives as a given the strongest criticism from the Media, NGOs, economic, and international organisations as being too big, inefficient and expensive for what it offers; but above all for being the basic impediment to transparency and hence the development of the country, unlike the private economy which usually presents itself as the main ‘victim’ of bureaucracy and ‘corruption’. The article attempts to challenge some myths and dispute everyday theories reproduced and expanded even more during the last few years, inside and outside Greece, because of the economic crisis, about public service in the country. The impact of the dominant concept of corruption in countries of the semi-periphery like Greece, as expressed by international organisations, will be included in the analysis.