Cochabamba Corruption

The lack of quality experienced by the citizens of Cochabamba could be explained by the fact that SEMAPA was widely known to be corrupt and therefore inefficient (Baer and Gerlak 1536). Due to this, Cochabamba as a whole was often viewed as embedded in the pattern of corruption, with a deficiency of technical capacity, and the absence of ways for useful participation for users and communal water groups (Baer and Gerlak 1537). The forms of corruption regularly found in the water supply and sanitation sector pertain to both petty and grand corruption (Asís et. al 12; 14).

Petty corruption frequently included small payments in order to gain a water connection or to have a repair attended faster along with bribes for falsifying meter readings. Such corruption was often made possible by staff of the municipal water network that

al 14). The most visible impact of such corruption is the fact that the cost of delivery in the water and sanitation sector rises. This includes operation and maintenance costs (Asís et. al 36). Since corruption is illegal, such activities are often performed ‘behind closed doors,’ where it cannot be observed directly (Asís et. al 50). For this reason it can be difficult to identify, but the water and sanitation sector is prone to corruption (Asís et. al 17). Especially when a company has a monopoly over the service along with the discretion to decide who gets access to the service (Warren, “What Does Corruption Mean in a Democracy?” 330). Furthermore, such a monopoly enjoys a lack of accountability due to the fact that such actions occur ‘behind closed doors.’ This allows them to continue such corrupt practices (Asís et. al 17). Thus, the granting of concessionaries can lead to instances of corruption where most visible impact is the rise in