Transparency International has examined 180 countries for its annual report in 2018. Yes, there are the usual Suspects, but also some interesting shifts in the Ranking. Here are the most important questions and answers.
Where there is very little corruption?
Leader in the fight against corruption according to Transparency International 2018 Denmark with 88 points, followed by new Zealand, Singapore, Sweden and Switzerland.
With a view to the different regions of the world, things are the best in Western Europe and in the EU. Here, the average result is a profit of 66 points. In the Ranking of each country can reach a value of 100 points (no corruption) to 0 (completely corrupt).
Which countries and regions are the most corrupt?
The worst results were achieved by four lengthy civil war-torn countries: Somalia, Syria, South Sudan and Yemen, in addition, North Korea.
The most corrupt Region is according to the Index of sub-Saharan Africa, where in many countries “ineffective institutions and a weak democratic values […] a threat to Anti-corruption measures,” Transparency International.
It is also significantly below the average for 2018 Eastern Europe and Central Asia, where, according to the Index of “a lack of political will and political Rights, as well as weak institutions create an environment in which corruption without a lot of resistance can flourish”.
What exactly is the Index?
How corrupt the authorities are in Belgium? And how much infidelity there is in Ghana? That can hardly be measured. Finally, illegal activities take place mostly in Secret, and are thus difficult to comprehend. Transparency created its annual Ranking therefore, by using twelve renowned international organizations. These experts and business people to interview about their perception of how they are corrupt to see the conditions in the respective countries. That’s why Transparency is called the Index of corruption perception index.
According to the Transparency Index captures mainly, how common bribery, embezzlement and nepotism in the respective countries; but also the extent to which there are laws against corruption, and whether these are enforced. The target: corruption worldwide, visible and comparable.
Key issues in the preparation of the Index are, for example: Do certain interest groups have a strong influence on the government? Be awarded state Jobs to skills or relationships? Whistleblowers and journalists who have exposed corruption, protected by law?
How is it with Germany?
Germany is in the Ranking to 11th place out of 180 countries, with a value of 80 points, on a par with the United Kingdom. Better Norway, the Netherlands, Canada and Luxembourg sections in addition to Denmark, new Zealand, Finland, Singapore, Sweden and Switzerland.
In the previous year, Germany was ranked 12 with a score of 81 points – it has changed so little. Even then, Transparency International criticized: “Germany has been stagnating for a few years.”
The organization calls for, among other things, a mandatory lobby register in Germany. So far, there is no law that stakeholders and organizations are obliged to register on a public list.
Cut democracies better than non-democratic countries?
Yes, clearly, even if there are exceptions. Clearly, democratically-run, countries came to an average score of 75 points, while autocratic Regimes have achieved an average of just 30 points.
According to Transparency International, demonstrated by the examples of Turkey and Hungary, that corruption often increases when a country begins to move away from democratic values to be avoided. Between 2012 and 2018, Hungary lost nine points in the Ranking, the Turkey eight.
Worldwide populist politicians have promised to fight corruption. You keep the promise?
According to Transparency International, populist politicians may pose more of a threat to the fight against corruption. The organization cites the USA as an example: Donald Trump won the election with the battle cry “Drain the swamp” (“the corruption swamp!”).
The Corruption in Washington wet: U.S. President Donald Trump
In fact, the Corruption in Washington has become since trump took office, but according to the organization rather wet: The United States lost 2018 four points in the Anti-corruption Ranking. The reason is, Transparency, is that in the USA democratic basic rules were increasingly called into question and that an “Erosion of ethical standards have taken place at the highest levels of Power”.
“Corruption flourishes especially where the democratic foundations weakened, and, as we have already seen in many countries, use of these populist politicians to their advantage,” said Delia Ferreira Rubio, chair of Transparency International.