One third of Romania's population (33.4 pct) and roughly an equal percentage (31.7 pct) of the representatives of the local public administration consider that the phenomenon of corruption is Romania's most serious issue, shows a survey on corruption in the local public administration.

The survey was conducted by the Ministry of Administration and the Interior (MAI), via the Central Unit for the Reform of Public Administration in cooperation with the National Anti-corruption Directorate (DNA) between November - December 2011 and December 2011 - January 2012.

The same survey found that the phenomenon of corruption is second in the ranking of the most harmful issues after unemployment, which was reported as such by nearly two in five respondents in the two aforementioned categories, specifically 35.7 pct and 37.4 pct.

The survey also shows that the perception about corruption has a negative influence on the views regarding the direction the country is headed for (83.2 pct).

In 2011 the corruption degree measured based on the population's perception hit 87.5 pct, a level similar to that registered in 2007, 2008 and 2009.

As concerns the corruption degree in various public institutions, data show that 28.9 pct of the population consider this is highest in the government, followed by Parliament with 11.7 pct, the health system - 10.3 pct and courts of law with 7.7 pct.

As for the institutions of local public administration, 64.5 pct of the respondents place County Councils at the top of this negative ranking, followed by health services (59.9 pct).

Regarding the types of corruption occurring in institutions, 72.7 pct of the respondents said influence peddling is the broadest such plague, followed by bribery that mostly affects the Public Local Administration, confirming that the market of corruption also works according to the demand and supply principle.

The main elements that favor the appearance of corruption inside the Local Public Administration structures is the absence of sanctions for such deeds, consider 83.7 pct of the citizens, control inefficiency (79.7 pct), and the interference of political decision-makers with the activity of public factors - 76.4 pct.