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{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2021}}
'''''Fakelaki''''' or '''''fakellaki''''' is the phonetic transliteration of the [[Greek language|Greek]] word φακελάκι. It means "little envelope" but is also used in Greek popular culture as a jargon term referring to the [[bribery]] of public servants and private companies by [[Greece|Greek]] citizens in order to "expedite" service.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thenation.com/article/162177/whats-wrong-and-right-about-greece/|title=What's Wrong—and Right—With Greece|work=The Nation|location=United States|accessdate=20 July 2011}}</ref> According to this practice, sums of money are stuffed in [[File folder|file]]s and passed across the desk to secure appointments, documents approval and [[License|permits]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.innovationsinnewspapers.com/index.php/2010/02/25/watchdog-journalism-greece-fakelaki-and-the-world-bank/ |title=Watchdog Journalism, Greece, "Fakelaki", and the World Bank |work=What's Next: Innovations in Newspapers blog |accessdate=15 March 2010 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100302204429/http://www.innovationsinnewspapers.com/index.php/2010/02/25/watchdog-journalism-greece-fakelaki-and-the-world-bank/ |archivedate=2 March 2010 }}</ref>
== Dynamics ==
The Greek term "fakelaki" is close to the notion of [[tip (gratuity)|tip]] in meaning, but it may also refer to specific ''tariffs'' demanded by government officials to bypass procedure.<ref name="businessinsider.com">{{cite news|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/greeces-political-dynasties-the-reason-for-the-crises-2011-7/|title=The Political Dynasties That Destroyed Greece, And The Real Reason The Country Is Such A Mess|work=Business Insider|accessdate=22 July 2011}}</ref> As of mid-2011, one in four employed Greeks worked for the government.<ref name="businessinsider.com"/>
Fakelaki is also connected to a work culture that perceives the various documents issued by authorities (for example a driving license) as "papers" needed to pay a price "to buy".<ref name="businessinsider.com"/> Fakelaki is illegal, but its continuing presence in Greek life remains a problem.<ref name="businessinsider.com"/>
== Extent ==
[[Transparency International]], an independent corruption monitoring [[NGO]], found that 13% of Greeks paid fakelaki, bribery in the form of envelopes with cash donations, in 2009, which was estimated to account for €787 million in yearly corruption payments.<ref name="Fakelaki">{{cite news|title=Griechenland: Abkehr von den Fakelaki| newspaper=Die Zeit |url=http://www.zeit.de/wirtschaft/2010-05/griechenland-korruption-schwarzarbeit?page=all |publisher=zeit.de|date=6 May 2010 | last1=Breitinger | first1=Matthias }}</ref> At the same time, it was estimated that roughly €1 billion was paid by companies in bribes to public institutions for avoiding bureaucratic rules or to get other benefits.<ref name="Der Standard">{{cite web|title=Jede Menge Fakelaki in Griechenland |url=http://derstandard.at/1265851940139/Schmiergeld-Jede-Menge-Fakelaki-in-Griechenland |work=Der Standard| date=11 February 2010}}</ref>
When all sorts of corruption in Greece are calculated, the total amount is estimated to be roughly €3.5 billion per year (equal to 1.75% of the Greek GDP). Compared with corruption levels [[Corruption Perceptions Index|measured]] by [[Transparency International]] for 160 other countries, Greece ranked at 49th in 2004, was down at 57th in 2008, and slumped to 71st place in 2009.<ref name="Der Standard"/> The government elected in October 2009 had on its agenda to increase the fight against fakelaki and other forms of corruption.<ref name="Fakelaki"/>
In 2012, the website edosafakelaki ("I paid a bribe" in Greek) was created for Greek citizens to anonymously report the payment of fakelaki. The site received over 1,000 reports in its first month of operation.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-20874650 BBC News]</ref> The website was created after its founder, [[Kristina Tremonti]], was forced to pay a fakelaki on behalf of her 90-year-old grandfather, a war veteran with [[terminal cancer]], who was left waiting for hours in the emergency room of a public hospital.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2012/nov/13/greek-people-system-bribery Greek bribery system] [[The Guardian]], November 2012</ref>
== See also ==
*[[Tax evasion and corruption in Greece]]
*[[Baksheesh]]
== References ==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
*[http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_politics_100041_30/05/2007_83897 Patient blogs hospital graft]
*[http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/0,1518,682030-2,00.html A Clash of Cultures on the Aegean]
[[Category:Corruption in Greece]]
[[Category:Economy of Greece]]
[[Category:Informal economy]]
[[Category:Bribery]]