NCJ Number
238708
Date Published
November 2011
Length
24 pages
Annotation
After defining "corruption," this booklet presents an overview of its prevalence in countries throughout the world, the losses due to corruption, and the efforts of governments to reduce corruption.
Abstract
In most instances, "corruption" involves the offering or receiving of a benefit in the form of a payment, gift, loan, fee, or reward. Transparency International (TI), a global civil society organization, publishes an annual Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), which measures the perceived level of corruption of the public sector in 178 countries. The index features a scale of 0-10, with 0 indicating the highest level of corruption and 10 the lowest. The results of the 2010 CPI indicate that of the 178 countries surveyed, just over 75 percent (133 countries) scored below 5. Corruption and bribery are fundamental issues that undermine social and economic development globally. Corrupt and unethical practices not only have an adverse impact on the gross domestic product of many countries; they can also restrict the capital inflow, investment, and overall growth of those economies. The number of cases in which companies faced losses due to unethical or corrupt practices quadrupled in 2010, from 10 percent in 2009 to 40 percent in 2010. Government bodies and regulatory authorities are making anti-corruption and anti-bribery laws more stringent. Measures are being implemented to prevent misconduct and control the effect of violations by corporations, firms, and individuals. There are various national laws in place, and several voluntary initiatives have been undertaken to reduce and eliminate corruption. Despite the prevalence of anti-corruption and anti-bribery measures by governments worldwide, many countries face significant challenges in implementing and effectively enforcing these laws. These include the interference of foreign capital promotional policies, lack of political will to enforce anti-corruption laws, the need to protect property rights, and trimmed budgets. 6 figures and a listing of information sources