Understanding the Corruption Problem in Mexico
Corruption in Mexico is a deeply ingrained issue. According to the National Delegation of Transparency International in Mexico, our country scored a mere 26 out of 100 on the Corruption Perceptions Index last year, placing us in the failing category. In contrast, countries like Denmark scored 90 out of 100, highlighting an unexpected disparity given the reported equivalence between our healthcare systems. In 2023, the National Survey of Quality and Government Impact conducted by INEGI reported that 83.1% of Mexicans surveyed believed that corrupt acts were frequent or very frequent.
The Visible Impact of Corruption
Mexicans don’t need statistics to perceive the intensity of corruption, as its presence is evident in daily life, especially when political power shifts from one group to another. Illegal enrichment is noticeable, for instance, when “new rich” emerge—often public servants or “businesspeople” who not only drastically increase their income but also flaunt ostentatious lifestyles and rapidly climb the social ladder.
The Human Element in Corruption
Corruption is directly linked to human nature. The power associated with high-level public positions can lead individuals to view it as a privilege rather than a responsibility. Public servants authorized to make decisions, such as contract allocations or hiring subordinates, may begin justifying preferences for friends or family members until they convince themselves that there’s nothing wrong with it, believing they deserve these freedoms because the people entrusted them or that “it was their turn,” as others have committed similar corrupt acts in the past.
AI as a Solution
Reducing human intervention in decision-making processes most susceptible to corruption will automatically decrease corruption indices. Artificial Intelligence (AI) can play a significant role here, as one of its primary functions is to mimic human decision-making. For example, imagine an AI system evaluating bids in a tender process.
AI in Prevention and Supervision
Beyond prevention, AI offers substantial potential in corruption supervision and sanctioning. Similar to how the SAT uses AI to identify discrepancies in income and taxes paid by taxpayers, this technology could automate the comparison of public servants’ asset declarations with the taxes they’ve paid, their registered property in public property offices, and even their bank transactions.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the current state of corruption in Mexico? According to Transparency International, Mexico scored 26 out of 100 on the Corruption Perceptions Index, indicating a failing grade.
- How does corruption impact Mexicans daily? Corruption’s presence is evident in daily life, with illegal enrichment and ostentatious lifestyles of “new rich” being common examples.
- What role can AI play in combating corruption? AI can reduce human intervention in decision-making processes prone to corruption, automate supervision tasks, and ensure transparency.
- How can AI be implemented to prevent and detect corruption? AI systems could evaluate bids, ensure merit-based public servant appointments, and automate the comparison of asset declarations with tax payments and bank transactions.
