A recent report by Transparency International has revealed that many countries experienced their worst showing in over a decade in terms of public sector corruption. The Corruption Perceptions Index, which assesses corruption levels worldwide, highlighted concerning trends across leading powers like the United States and France, as well as authoritarian regimes such as Russia and Venezuela.
Out of the 180 countries surveyed, 47 recorded their lowest scores since the current methodology was adopted in 2012. The report emphasized that global corruption levels continue to be alarmingly high, with efforts to combat corruption showing signs of faltering.
Transparency International also underscored the risks posed by corruption to initiatives aimed at addressing climate change. The lack of transparency and accountability mechanisms increases the likelihood of climate funds being misused, while undue influence, often from the private sector, hampers the approval of ambitious policies.
The Corruption Perceptions Index ranks countries on a scale from 0 (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean) based on data from various sources. The global average score remained unchanged at 43, with over two-thirds of countries scoring below 50. Denmark retained the top spot with 90 points, followed by Finland and Singapore.
Notably, the United States saw a decline in its score, dropping from 69 to 65 and slipping from 24th to 28th place. The report highlighted criticisms of the U.S. judicial branch and raised concerns about the enforcement mechanisms of the newly adopted code of ethics.
Other Western nations like France and Germany also experienced drops in their scores, reflecting challenges in combating corruption. In Mexico, the judiciary's inaction in major corruption cases led to a five-point decrease in its score.
Across different regions, the report pointed out varying trends. While some countries like Ukraine showed progress in judicial independence and anti-corruption efforts, others like Russia witnessed further declines in their scores due to authoritarian practices.
In conclusion, Transparency International emphasized the need for stronger anti-corruption measures globally to address the persistent challenges posed by corruption and its detrimental effects on society.
