Several
nations in South Asia are again near the bottom of the list in a widely
respected annual survey of worldwide perceptions about public sector
corruption.
Those
who live and do business in South Asia may find it no surprise that the
region includes countries viewed as among the most corrupt in the world.
Berlin-based
Transparency International has released its annual report on perceptions
of corruption.
The
survey ranks military-ruled Burma as tied with the lawless East African
country of Somalia as the world's most corrupt states.
Of
180 nations considered, Bangladesh ranks 162nd and Pakistan is 138th,
seven spots below Nepal.
Transparency
International's index is based on surveys of experts in international
organizations and the business community.
Bhutan
has slipped compared to previous years, but it is best in the region at
46th. India is tied with China and six other countries at number 72 and
ahead of Sri Lanka, which is 94th.
India
last year ranked 70th but only 163 countries were included in that survey.
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Alexandra
Wrage, president of Trace International, 26 Sep 2007
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Alexandra
Wrage, the president of Trace International, an association of
corporations committed to anti-bribery work around the globe, says she
sees cause for optimism in parts of South Asia.
"Using
India as an example, there is widespread dissatisfaction with the pace of
increased transparency," said Wrage. "And as a result of
that we are seeing progress. In countries like Myanmar, where the public
has a less organized voice, then we see less progress. And in fact, they
are dead last on the perceptions index."
The
countries considered the cleanest in terms of public sector wrongdoing are
New Zealand, Denmark, and Finland. The United States ranks 20th, between
France and Belgium.
But
experts say many richer countries seen as the least corrupt share blame
for the endemic corruption in the developing world.
Trace
International's Wrage says multi-national corporations frequently complain
they are forced to pay bribes by corrupt public officials in South Asia
and other developing regions.
"If
you speak to governments, of course, they will say 'we are trying to clean
up our system internally and bring greater transparency' and here come the
multi-nationals with briefcases full of cash," she added.
In
its annual report, Transparency International is calling for low-scoring
countries to strengthen accountability in public institutions. It is also
asking top-ranking nations to take action, particularly when it comes to
corruption in the private sector, both at home and abroad.
