Transparency International has released its 2019 Corruption Perceptions Index which scores 180 countries and territories around the world by their perceived levels of public sector corruption according to experts and business people. Despite anti-corruption movements gaining momentum around the world last year, the research found that a staggering number of countries have showed little to no improvement in tackling the problem. It tends to be more pervasive in countries where big money can flow freely into electoral campaigns and where governments are only interested in listening to the voices of the wealthy and well-connected.
Countries were scored on a scale from 0 (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean) with more than two-thirds scoring below 50 and the global average working out at 43. Denmark and New Zealand were named the cleanest countries with a score of 87 each, followed by Finland, Singapore and Sweden. The countries with the highest levels of perceived public sector corruption were named as Somalia, South Sudan and Syria, all of which had a score of less than 15. In the last eight years, only 22 countries recorded a significant improvement in their scores while 21 experienced a significant decrease. Greece, Guyana and Estonia were among the nations making notable progress during that period while Canada, Nicaragua and Australia all experienced a significant deterioration.
With a score of 69, the United States dropped two points compared to last year and it came joint 23rd with France. The research notes that this is the lowest U.S. score in eight years and it comes at a time when Americans' trust in government is at historic lows and as the country faces numerous challenges. They include threats to its system of checks and balances, the increasing influence of special interests in government and the use of anonymous shell companies by criminals, corrupt individuals and even terrorists to hide illicit activities. The report added that the Trump administration's scandals, resignations and allegations of unethical behaviour suggest that the "pay-to-play" culture has only become more entrenched in Washington.
Delia Ferreira Rubio, the chair of Transparency International, said that "governments must urgently address the corrupting roll of big money in political party financing and the undue influence it exerts on our political system". The report recommends a number of measures to address the situation and restore trust in politics. They include tighter control of political financing, better management of conflicts of interest and strengthening electoral integrity. Additional recommendations include better regulation of lobbying and the creation of mechanisms to tackle preferential treatment along with greater levels of protection for civil liberties and political rights.
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Countries and territories ranked on perceived public sector corruption in 2019.
