TI study highlights corruption in poor countries

Non-governmental organisation Transparency International (TI) has released the results of its global public-sector corruption perceptions survey. As in previous years the research shows a link between poverty and an increased risk of corruption.

The cleanest countries in the 2013 survey were Denmark and New Zealand, both of which scored more than 90 out of a possible 100 on the scale of perceived corruption. Other high-rankers were Finland, Sweden, Norway, Singapore, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Australia, Canada and Luxembourg, all of which scored more than 80 out of 100.

At the other end of the scale, Somalia, North Korea and Afghanistan all scored less than 10 out of 100, and other low-ranked countries included Sudan, South Sudan, Libya, Iraq, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Syria, Yemen and Haiti.

TI bases its findings on expert opinion of corruption in different countries, drawn from a range of sources and business surveys.

The organisation said in a statement, “The need for greater accountability is clear, and leaders cannot look the other way. But recognising the problem is only the first step – governments need to turn pledges into actions. All citizens deserve bribe-free services, and leaders that are answerable to the public, not to powerful friends.”

Construction is one of the industries at greatest risk from corruption. According to consultant Grant Thornton, bribery, fraud and other illegal activities could cost the industry as much as US$ 860 billion per year – 10% of its value.

Click here for more details of TI’s Corruption Perceptions Index 2013.