Transparency Int'l Says Global Corruption Has Increased Over Last 3 Years
Transparency International’s 2010 Global Corruption Barometer says that corruption has increased over the last three years, according to the experiences and views of more than 91,500 people in 86 countries and territories interviewed for the 2010 report.
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20 Countries Report Surges in Bribery, Including Chile, Colombia, Russia, Etc.
More than 20 countries have reported significant increases in petty bribery since 2006. The biggest increases were in Chile, Colombia, Kenya, Macedonia, Nigeria, Poland, Russia, Senegal and Thailand.
Over 50% of Sub-Saharan Africans Paid Bribes, 11% in Asia Pacific, 5% in U.S.
Sub-Saharan Africans report paying the most bribes: more than one in two people report paying a bribe in the past 12 months. This compares to 36% of people surveyed in the Middle East and North Africa, 32% in the Newly Independent states, 23% in Latin America, 19% in the Western Balkans and Turkey, 11% in Asia Pacific, and just 5% in European Union countries and North America.
Public Perception of Increase in Corruption Highest in N. America, Europe
Despite the low numbers of bribes reportedly paid in Western Europe and North America, public views on corruption were most negative in these regions, where 73% and 67% of people respectively thought corruption had increased over the last three years.
50% Pay Bribes to Avoid Problems with Authorities, 25% Pay to Speed Up Processes
Almost half of all respondents say they paid bribes to avoid problems with the authorities and a quarter say it was to speed up processes.
Broken down by region, the most reported reason to pay a bribe in the Asia Pacific was to receive a service the respondent was entitled to, while in Sub-Saharan Africa it was to avoid a problem with authorities. In the Middle East & North Africa, and Latin America, the reason most reported was to speed things up.
Half Believe Government Anti-Corruption Actions Are Ineffective
Half the people questioned say their government’s action to stop corruption is ineffective. This reflects little change over time; however, opinions have worsened slightly since 2007 in Asia Pacific, Latin America and Sub-Saharan Africa -- while they have improved in the Newly Independent States and North America.