Development: 2006 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI)

The 2006 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), launched today by Transparency International (TI), points to a strong correlation between corruption and poverty, with a concentration of impoverished states at the bottom of the ranking. The CPI reinforces the link between poverty and corruption. It shows the machinery of corruption remains well-oiled, despite improved legislation. “Corruption traps millions in poverty,” said Transparency International Chair Huguette Labelle. “Despite a decade of progress in establishing anti-corruption laws and regulations, today’s results indicate that much remains to be done before we see meaningful improvements in the lives of the world’s poorest citizens.”

The 2006 CPI is a composite index that draws on multiple expert opinion surveys that poll perceptions of public sector corruption in 163 countries around the world, the greatest scope of any CPI to date. It scores countries on a scale from zero to ten, with zero indicating high levels of perceived corruption and ten indicating low levels of perceived corruption. Almost three-quarters of the countries in the CPI score below five (including all low-income countries and all but two African states) indicating that most countries in the world face serious perceived levels of domestic corruption. Seventy-one countries - nearly half - score below three, indicating that corruption is perceived as rampant. Haiti (the lowest score at 1.8), Guinea, Iraq and Myanmar share the last slots. Finland, Iceland and New Zealand share the top score of 9.6. The usual suspects share the top ten positions (i.e. the Scandinavian countries, the Netherlands, Switzerland...). The UK comes in number 11, France in 18th place together with Ireland, Belgium comes 20 together with Chile and the USA (down from 17 in 2005). Spain 23rd, Portugal 26th, Italy 45th and Greece 54th. The worst European Union country is Romania in 84th place (!) but closely followed by Poland in 61st place (while Cuba comes 66th, China 70th and Russia 121st). All in all, no big surprises...

Check the whole list bellow:
http://www.transparency.org/news_room/in_focus/cpi_2006/cpi_table