The Washington Times

Afghans spend $3.9 billion on bribes in 2012

The cost of doing business in Afghanistan soared in 2012, as fully half of all the nation’s adult-aged residents were forced to bribe public officials in order to obtain services, according to the United Nations.

To put a dollar figure on it: Afghanistan’s costs of corruption hit $3.9 billion, according to the United Nations, cited by AP.

The corruption problem has plagued Afghanistan for years and turned back potential investments from the West, according to AP. Still, the 2012 findings show improvement from 2009.

Three years ago, AP reports, nearly 60 percent of adults had to pay at least one bribe to obtain services.

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