Skip to main content

A case study of systemic corruption in the state health bureaucracy

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Corona und Korruption

Abstract

In 2020, Rio de Janeiro’s governor Wilson Witzel, a former judge, was suspended on charges of malfeasance in state contracts to fight the coronavirus pandemic. Investigative procedures, recorded as text and video sources, comprise an unprecedented dataset that enable an empirical investigation of COVID-related corruption to be conducted. On the basis of this case study, we are asking what are the continuities and changes related to public procurement graft uncovered in Rio de Janeiro? Our findings provide further insight on the interplay between politicians and businesspeople around electoral financing as well as disputes between technical and political staff at the state's health secretariat, advancing a definition of systemic corruption.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 69.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Notes

  1. 1.

    Apart from Rio de Janeiro, several Brazilian municipalities expanded access to health services by means of partnership with the Social Health Organizations (OSSs), entities of the third sector which provide services under management contracts made with the direct public administration, and which specify the objectives and targets to be achieved (Silva et al., 2016).

  2. 2.

    NOVO is a political party that stands unabashedly for liberal matters, such free markets, a minimal state, fiscal responsibility, equality before the law, less privileges for the elites, lower taxes and a focus on individual liberties.

  3. 3.

    Meaning targeting the competition to the benefit of one particular competitor.

  4. 4.

    All quotations from official documents are translated by the authors.

  5. 5.

    The businessman Mario Peixoto is suspected of controlling different organizations, among which Iabas that held public contracts with Rio’s government and also with other state entities like the city of Duque de Caxias.

  6. 6.

    The Office of the Federal Prosecutor of the Republic in Rio de Janeiro obtained an intercepted dialogue regarding the act of revocation of the disqualification of a Social Organization named UNIR SAÚDE, indicative of a possible illicit agreement between Mario Peixoto with Governor Wilson Witzel, since the governor granted the hierarchical appeal presented by the organization and revoked the SES/SECCG Ordinance SES/SECCG n. 664/2019, which disqualified the entity, on the ground of convenience and opportunity, demonstrating strong likelihood of the existence of adjustments for the embezzlement of public money (fls. 73/74).

  7. 7.

    Law 13.979/2020 does allow for a simplified term of reference, but it still requires (a) statement of the object; b) simplified justification for the contracting c) summarized description of the solution presented d) contracting requirements e) measurement and payment criteria; f) budget adequacy; and g) price estimates based on minimum parameters defined by law.

  8. 8.

    The COVID-19 procurement regulation authorized, exceptionally and with justification, the contracting of companies that have been declared ineligible or that have had their right to participate in bidding or contract with the government suspended, when it is shown that they are the only supplier of the goods or service to be acquired in question and they are related to the health crisis.

  9. 9.

    Carioca is the adjective used to designate the native inhabitants of Rio de Janeiro and things. Like the lyrics of the famous Bossa Nova song “Girl of Ipanema” that goes “She is carioca”.

  10. 10.

    Arrested governors of Rio de Janeiro in the last two decades: Wellington Moreira Franco, Anthony Garotinho, Rosinha Garotinho, Sérgio Cabral Filho, Luiz Fernando Pezão.

References

  • Amorim, D. (2020). Médico com fama de xerife é o novo secretário de Saúde, o quarto em menos de dois anos no estado. Jornal O Globo. https://oglobo.globo.com/rio/medico-com-fama-de-xerife-o-novo-secretario-de-saude-quarto-em-menos-de-dois-anos-no-estado-24660131. Accessed: 21 April 2021.

  • Ashforth, B. E., & Anand, V. (2003). The normalization of corruption in organizations. Research in Organizational Behavior, 25, 1–52.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ashforth, B. E., Gioia, D. A., Robinson, S. L., & Treviño, L. K. (2008). Re-viewing organizational corruption. Academy of Management Review, 33(3), 670–684.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Assembleia Legistaliva do Rio de Janeiro (Alerj). http://www.alerj.rj.gov.br/Visualizar/Noticia/49411.

  • Bannenberg, B. (2002). Korruption in Deutschland und ihre strafrechtliche Kontrolle: Eine kriminologisch-strafrechtliche Analyse. Luchterhand.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bathelt, H., & Glückler, J. (2014). Institutional change in economic geography. Progress in Human Geography, 38(3), 340–363.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Becker, G. S. (1968). Crime and punishment: An economic approach. Journal of Political Economy, 76(2), 169–217.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bergmann, J. (2014). Gescheiterte Informalität am Beispiel des Korruptionsfalls Siemens. In J. Bergmann, M. Hahn, A. Langhof, & G. Wagner (Hrsg.), Scheitern – Organisations- und wirtschaftssoziologische Analysen (S. 231–250). Springer VS.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Bezerra, M. O. (2017). Corrupção e produção do Estado. Revista Pós Ciências Sociais, 14(27), 99.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bezerra, M. O. (2018). Corrupção: Um estudo sobre poder público e relações pessoais no Brasil (2a ed.). Papéis Selvagens.

    Google Scholar 

  • Braithwaite, J. (1985). White collar crime. Annual Review of Sociology, 11(1), 1–25.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brasil, C. I. do. (2021). Fila de espera por leito de UTI bate novo recorde no Rio. O total de leitos entre UTI e enfermaria alcançou ontem 858 pacientes. Agência Brasil. https://agenciabrasil.ebc.com.br/saude/noticia/2021-03/fila-de-espera-por-leito-de-uti-bate-novo-recorde-no-rio. Accessed 30 April 2021.

  • Brief, A. P., Buttram, R. T., & Dukerich, J. M. (2001). Collective corruption in the corporate world: Toward a process model. In M. E. Turner (Hrsg.), Applied social research series groups at work: Theory and research (S. 471–500). Taylor and Francis.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brockner, J., & James, E. H. (2008). Toward an understanding of when executives see crisis as opportunity. The Journal of Applied Behavioral Science, 44(1), 94–115.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Campbell, J. L., & Göritz, A. S. (2014). Culture corrupts! A qualitative study of organizational culture in corrupt organizations. Journal of Business Ethics, 120(3), 291–311.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Campello de Souza, M. do C. (1976). Estado e partidos políticos no Brasil (1930 a 1964). Alfa-Omega.

    Google Scholar 

  • Coleman, J. S. (1992). Körperschaften und die moderne Gesellschaft. Scientia nova James S. Coleman (Bd. 2). Oldenbourg.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dal Piva, J., & Sabóia, G. (2021). Wilson Witzel fala sobre seu processo de impeachment no governo do Rio. UOL Entrevista. https://www.facebook.com/UOL/videos/151726476806283/.

  • DaMatta, R. (1997). Carnavais, Malandros e Heróis: Para uma sociologia do dilema brasileiro (6th ed.). Rocco.

    Google Scholar 

  • de DeGraaf, G., & Huberts, L. (2008). Portraying the nature of corruption using an explorative case study design. Public Administration Review, 68(4), 640–653.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Della Porta, D., & Vannucci, A. (1997). The resources of corruption: Some reflections from the Italian case. Crime, Law and Social Change, 27(3–4), 231–254.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Deutsche Welle. (2021). Brazil's Supreme Court greenlights probe into Bolsonaro's COVID-19 response. Deutsche Welle. https://www.dw.com/en/brazils-supreme-court-greenlights-probe-into-bolsonaros-covid-19-response/a-57207028. Accessed 21 April 2021.

  • Duarte, F. (2006). Exploring the interpersonal transaction of the Brazilian Jeitinho in bureaucratic contexts. Organization, 13(4), 509–527.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Flick, U., von Kardorff, E., & Steinke, I. (Hrsg.). (2017). Qualitative Forschung: Ein Handbuch (12. Aufl.). Rowohlt.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fonseca, P., Mandl, C., & Osterman, C. (2021). Rio de Janeiro governor impeachment confirmed over alleged COVID-19-related graft. Euronews. https://www.euronews.com/2021/05/01/us-health-coronavirus-brazil-politics.

  • Gallego, J. A., Prem, M., & Vargas, J. F. (2020). Corruption in the times of pandemia. SSRN Electronic Journal. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3600572

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Globo. (2020a). Deputados do Novo protocolam pedido de impeachment de Witzel. Solicitação foi entregue pelos parlamentares à Mesa Diretora da Assembleia Legislativa do Rio de Janeiro (Alerj). Jornal O Globo – G1 Rio. https://g1.globo.com/rj/rio-de-janeiro/noticia/2020/05/29/deputados-do-novo-protocolam-pedido-de-impeachment-de-witzel.ghtml. Accessed: 15 April 2021.

  • Globo. (2020b). Secretário de Saúde de SC diz que respiradores alvo de investigação não serão usados para tratar Covid-19. Jornal O Globo – G1 SC. https://g1.globo.com/sc/santa-catarina/noticia/2020/06/05/secretario-de-saude-de-sc-diz-que-respiradores-alvo-de-investigacao-nao-serao-usados-para-tratar-covid-19.ghtml. Accessed: 15 April 2021.

  • Glückler, J., & Lenz, R. (2016). How institutions moderate the effectiveness of regional police: A framework and research agenda. Investigaciones Regionales-Journal of Regional Research, 36, 255–277.

    Google Scholar 

  • Glückler, J., Suddaby, R., & Lenz, R. (Hrsg.). (2018K). Knowledge and institutions. Springer Open.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gottfredson, M. R., & Hirschi, T. (1990). A general theory of crime. Stanford Univ. Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Green, G. S. (1990). Occupational crime. Nelson-Hall Chicago.

    Google Scholar 

  • IBGE. (2010). Censo Brasileiro de 2010. Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística. Rio de Janeiro. https://cidades.ibge.gov.br/brasil/rj/panorama.

  • Jorge, M. (2021). Lawyers as enablers of wrongdoing: Challenges faced by democracies regarding corruption and money laundering. In E. Valarini, M. Pohlmann, & S. Mitra (Hrsg.), Organization, Management and Crime. Political Corruption and Organizational Crime: The Grey Fringes of Democracy, and the Private Economy. Springer VS.

    Google Scholar 

  • Joshi, M., Anand, V., & Henderson, K. (2007). The role of organizational practices and routines in facilitating normalized corruption. In C. L. Cooper, J. Langan, & R. J. Klimoski (Hrsg.), New horizons in management. Research companion to the dysfunctional workplace: Management challenges and symptoms (S. 235–251). EdwardElgar.

    Google Scholar 

  • Justiça Federal da 2ª Região, Seção Judiciária do Rio de Janeiro. https://eproc.jfrj.jus.br/.

  • Kersting, S., & Erdmann, J. (2014). Analyse von Hellfelddaten – Darstellung von Problemen, Besonderheiten und Fallstricken anhand ausgewählter Praxisbeispiele. In S. Eifler & D. Pollich (Hrsg.), Kriminalität und Gesellschaft. Empirische Forschung über Kriminalität: Methodologische und methodische Grundlagen (S. 9–29). Springer VS.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Klinkhammer, J. (2011). Korruption powered by Siemens. Alte, korruptionsaffine Wertorientierungen in den Führungsetagen des Geschäftsbereichs Power Generation. In M. Pohlmann & G. Lämmlin (Hrsg.), Neue Werte in den Führungsetagen? Kontinuität und Wandel in der Wirtschaftselite. Herrenalber Forum, Bd. 64 (S. 136–168). Evang. Akad. Baden.

    Google Scholar 

  • Klinkhammer, J. (2013). On the dark side of the code: Organizational challenges to an effective anti-corruption strategy. Crime, Law and Social Change, 60(2), 191–208.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Knecht, T. (2009). Persönlichkeit von Wirtschaftskriminellen: Je mehr psychopathische Kerneigenschaften, desto düsterer die Kriminalprognose. Psychiatrie, 4, 25–29.

    Google Scholar 

  • Koch, J. (2004). Zwischen den Zeilen der Organisation: Zur Bedeutung postmodernen Denkens für Organisationstheorie und Organisationsberatung. Organisationsberatung, Supervision, Coaching, 11(4), 313–327.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kühl, S. (2007). Formalität, Informalität und Illegalität in der Organisationsberatung: Systemtheoretische Analyse eines Beratungsprozesses. Soziale Welt, 58(3), 271–293.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lazzarini, S. G. (2011). Capitalismo de laços: Os donos do Brasil e suas conexões. Elsevier.

    Google Scholar 

  • Leitão, L. (2014). Empresário ligado a caciques do PMDB acumula R$ 480 milhões em contratos com o governo estadual. Revista Veja. https://veja.abril.com.br/brasil/empresario-ligado-a-caciques-do-pmdb-acumula-r-480-milhoes-em-contratos-com-o-governo-estadual/. Accessed: 21 April 2021.

  • Luhmann, N. (1999). Funktionen und Folgen formaler Organisation (5. Aufl.). Duncker & Humblot.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mello, J. (2012). The Brazilian Way of Doing Things. Brazil business. http://thebrazilbusiness.com/article/the-brazilian-way-of-doing-things. Accessed: April 21st 2021.

  • Ministério Público Federal no Rio de Janeiro. http://www.mprj.mp.br/documents/20184/540394/denuncia_mercadorescaos.pdf.

  • Motta, A. (2021). Mandetta, Teich, Pazuello e Queiroga: os 4 ministros da Saúde da pandemia. Revista Veja. https://noticias.uol.com.br/saude/ultimas-noticias/redacao/2021/03/15/mandetta-teich-pazuello-e-queiroga-os-4-ministros-da-saude-da-pandemia.htm. Accessed: 25 April 2021.

  • Nerdinger, F. W. (2008). Unternehmensschädigendes Verhalten erkennen und verhindern. Praxis der Personalpsychologie. Hogrefe.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ortmann, G. (1999). Organisation und Dekonstruktion. In G. Schreyögg (Hrsg.), Organisation und Postmoderne Grundfragen – Analysen – Perspektiven (S. 157–196). Gabler.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ortmann, G. (2010). Organisation und Moral: Die dunkle Seite. Velbrück Wissenschaft.

    Google Scholar 

  • Palmer, D. (2012). Normal organizational wrongdoing: A critical analysis of theories of misconduct in and by organizations. Oxford University Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Peres, A. M. A. M., Sant’Ana, D. R., & Rodrigues, P. H. d. A. (2020). O processo de desmonte da Secretaria de Estado da Saúde do Rio de Janeiro e sua invisibilidade. Physis: Revista De Saúde Coletiva 30(3), 1–9.

    Google Scholar 

  • Peter, E., & Bogerts, B. (2010). Sexualstraftaten an Kindern – Wer sind die Täter? NK Neue Kriminalpolitik, 22(2), 45–51.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pope, J. (2000). Confronting corruption: The elements of a national integrity system. TI Source Book. Transparency International.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pinto, J., Leana, C. R., & Pil, F. K. (2008). Corrupt organizations or organizations of corrupt individuals? Two types of organization-level corruption. Academy of Management Review, 33(3), 685–709.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pohlmann, M. (2008). Management und Moral. In T. Blank, T. Münch, S. Schanne, & C. Staffhorst (Hrsg.), Integrierte Soziologie – Perspektiven zwischen Ökonomie und Soziologie, Praxis und Wissenschaft. Festschrift zum 70. Geburtstag von Hansjörg Weitbrecht (S. 161–175). Hampp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pohlmann, M., Bitsch, K., & Klinkhammer, J. (2016). Personal gain or organizational benefits? How to explain active corruption. German Law Journal, 17(1), 73–99.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pohlmann, M., Valarini, E., Trombini, M., & Jorge, M. (2019). Systemic corruption in Brazil: An autopsy of the odebrecht case. Journal of Self-Regulation and Regulation, 5, 54–78.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pujas, V., & Rhodes, M. (1999). Party finance and political scandal in Italy, Spain and France. West European Politics, 22(3), 41–63.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rabl, T., & Kühlmann, T. M. (2008). Understanding corruption in organizations: Development and empirical assessment of an action model. Journal of Business Ethics, 82(2), 477–495.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reynaldo, D. (2020). Novo secretário estadual de saúde se apresenta ao colegiado do CES. CES-RJ. http://www.conselhodesaude.rj.gov.br/noticias/1037-novo-secretario-estadual-de-saude-se-apresenta-ao-colegiado-do-ces.html. Accessed: 21 April 2021.

  • Resende, L. (2020). Empresário suspeito de fraudar saúde no RJ tem R$ 902 mi em contratos no estado. Mario Peixoto foi preso em desdobramento da Operação Lava Jato. CNN Brasil no Rio de Janeiro. https://www.cnnbrasil.com.br/nacional/2020/05/15/empresario-suspeito-de-fraudar-saude-no-rj-tem-r902-mi-em-contratos-no-estado. Accessed: 21 April 2021.

  • Rose-Ackerman, S. (2021). Corruption and COVID-19. EUNOMÍA. Revista En Cultura De La Legalidad, 20, 16–36.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Scott, W. R. (1995). Institutions and organizations: Ideas, interests and identities. Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Scott, W. R. (2003). Institutional carriers: Reviewing modes of transporting ideas over time and space and considering their consequences. Industrial and Corporate Change, 12, 879–894.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shover, N., & Hochstetler, A. (2002). Cultural explanation and organizational crime. Crime, Law and Social Change, 37(1), 1–18.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Silva, V. C., Barbosa, P. R., & Hortale, V. A. (2016). Partnerships in health systems: Social organization as limits and possibilities in the family health strategy management. Ciência & Saúde Coletiva, 21(5), 1365–1376.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Skocpol, T. (1979). States and social revolutions: A comparative analysis of France, Russia, and China. Cambridge University Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Spalding, A. B. (2017). Brazil's Olympic-Era Anti-Corruption Reforms. Richmond School of LawLaw Faculty Publications, 32, 188–220.

    Google Scholar 

  • Speck, B. W. (2002). Caminhos da Transparencia: Análise dos Componentes de um Sistema Nacional de Integridade. Editora Unicamp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tacke, V., & Kette, S. (2015). Systemtheorie, Organisation und Kritik. In A. Scherr (Hrsg.), Gesellschaftsforschung und Kritik. Systemtheorie und Differenzierungstheorie als Kritik: Perspektiven in Anschluss an Niklas Luhmann (S. 232–265). Beltz Juventa.

    Google Scholar 

  • Taylor, L. (2021). Covid-19: Brazil’s spiralling crisis is increasingly affecting young people. BMJ, 373, 879.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Teremetskyi, V., Duliba, Y., Kroitor, V., Korchak, N., & Makarenko, O. (2021). Corruption and strengthening anti-corruption efforts in healthcare during the pandemic of Covid-19. The Medico-Legal Journal, 89(1), 25–28.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Terziev, V., & Georgiev, M. (2020). Increasing the risk of corruption activities during a COVID-19 Pandemic. SSRN Electronic Journal. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3674427

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tribunal de Contas do Estado do Rio de Janeiro. https://www.tcerj.tc.br/portalnovo/pagina/processos_de_fiscalizacao_covid_19.

  • Tribunal de Justiça do Rio de Janeiro. Youtube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/user/pjerjoficial/videos.

  • Trombini, M. E. (2021). Misuse of public office for organizational gain? Brazilian political parties in corruption scandals. In E. Valarini, M. Pohlmann, & S. Mitra (Hrsg.), Organization, management and crime. Political corruption and organizational crime: The grey fringes of democracy, and the private economy. Springer VS.

    Google Scholar 

  • Valarini, E. (2021). ‘Culture’, criminality and collective mindset: Political financing in Brazil. In E. Valarini, M. Pohlmann, & S. Mitra (Hrsg.), Organization, management and crime. Political corruption and organizational crime: The grey fringes of democracy, and the private economy. Springer VS.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Valarini, E., & Pohlmann, M. (2019). Organizational crime and corruption in Brazil. A case study of the “Operation Carwash” court records. International Journal of Law, Crime and Justice, 59, 100340.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Valarini, E., & Trombini, M. E. (2021). Populist grammar, politicians and judges: a case study of political corruption in Brazil. In J. Mendilow & E. Phelippeau (eds.), Populism and Corruption - The other side of the coin. Edward Elgar.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vaughan, D. (1999). The dark side of organizations: Mistake, misconduct, and disaster. Annual Review of Sociology, 25, 271–305.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vogd, W. (2004). Ärztliche Entscheidungsfindung im Krankenhaus: Komplexe Fallproblematiken im Spannungsfeld von Patienteninteressen und administrativorganisatorischen Bedingungen. Zeitschrift Für Soziologie, 33(1), 26–47.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wolters, S. (2021). Warum Angela Merkel die Bundesländer teilweise entmachtet. Die Zeit online. https://www.zeit.de/video/2021-03/6240125347001/corona-massnahmen-warum-angela-merkel-die-bundeslaender-teilweise-entmachtet. Accessed: 24 April 2021.

  • Zettler, I., & Blickle, G. (2011). Zum Zusammenspiel von „wer?“ und „wo?“: Eine psychologische Betrachtungsweise personaler und situationaler Determinanten kontraproduktiven Verhaltens am Arbeitsplatz. Zeitschrift Für Internationale Strafrechtsdogmatik, 6(3), 143–147.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Elizangela Valarini .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2022 Der/die Autor(en), exklusiv lizenziert durch Springer Fachmedien Wiesbaden GmbH, ein Teil von Springer Nature

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Trombini, M.E., Jorge, M.H., Valarini, E., Pohlmann, M. (2022). A case study of systemic corruption in the state health bureaucracy. In: Wolf, S., Graeff, P. (eds) Corona und Korruption. Springer VS, Wiesbaden. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-658-35664-4_6

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-658-35664-4_6

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer VS, Wiesbaden

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-658-35663-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-658-35664-4

  • eBook Packages: Social Science and Law (German Language)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics