Going democrazy

Mongolia is a lesson in democracy. Twenty years after the fall of socialism, the lesson we've learned is that democracy is not one size fits all. It can't be imported, there's no blueprint. In Mongolia, as in most democracies, implementing it has been a long process of trial and error.

The Soviet era left behind a mean legacy of skepticism and corruption which still permeate daily life. According to 2005 CIA World Fact information, the "gray economy" in Mongolia - the money that goes under the table in the form of bribes and corruption - was at least equal to the nation's official economy, which is bolstered by rich gold, copper and uranium deposits.
Even the most basic tasks - enrolling a child in school or seeking medical help - necessitates a handshake full of cash.

In order to accurately judge corruption and bribery's affect on daily life, our task at the MDG 9 project is to create measurements and assessments that reflect how Mongolians feel about their demcracy's progression. With the data we receive, the goverment can yearly track gains and losses. It's a nationally-owned way for Mongolia to say, yep, we're getting closer, or nope, we've still a way to go toward our goal.

Last Sunday in a heavy drizzle of rain, the MDG 9 team, along with a World Bank consultant and an expert from the National Statistics Office, headed to the suburbs and ger villages above to pilot a new corruption perception survey. The survey is ground breaking because for the first time, Mongolian households are asked how bribery and corruption disrupt their every day activities. Below is Davaa, the expert from the stats office, conducting the survey in a ger village about 60 miles east of Ulaanbaatar.

I'm pleased to report that the survey was well received. Perhaps it's because parliamentary elections are close, but the citizens we spoke with were very happy to share their thoughts and opinions. We're ecstatic that the survey will be conducted yearly in households and gers all across the nation as a legislative mandate. It's one small victory in a the twenty year battle for change.