Majority Worldwide Sees Widespread Corruption in Businesses; Less-developed countries report more corruption.
Byline: Mitchell Ogisi
Synopsis: About two in three adults worldwide believe corruption is widespread in the businesses in their countries. This belief is commonplace throughout the world, ranging from 60% in the U.S. and Canada to 76% in sub-Saharan Africa.
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- About two in three adults worldwide believe corruption is widespread in the businesses in their countries. This belief is relatively commonplace everywhere in the world -- ranging from 60% in the U.S. and Canada to a high of 76% in sub-Saharan Africa -- but it tends to be higher in lower income regions.
Gallup's data, collected in 2011, demonstrate that corruption in business is an issue for developed and developing countries. However, developing nations may suffer more because corruption can stymie financial development and foreign investments and foster income inequality. This is apparent in many developing countries' lower rankings on the World Bank's Ease of Doing Business Index -- which gauges how conducive a country's business environment is to starting and operating a local firm -- and higher levels of perceived corruption.
In several regions, results vary widely across countries -- particularly countries at different stages of development. In Asia, for example, a relatively low 13% of residents in highly developed Singapore perceive corruption as widespread, and the city-state ranks first on the World Bank's Ease of Doing Business Index. In contrast, nearly nine in 10 adults in neighboring Indonesia perceive corruption as widespread in their businesses, and Indonesia's Ease of Doing Business Index ranking is 129.
Perceptions of business corruption also vary widely in former Soviet countries, ranging from a low of 28% in Georgia to a high of 87% in Moldova. Georgians' perceived corruption in business has dropped precipitously since 2006, when more than half the population (52%) viewed the problem as widespread. This decline, and Georgia's Ease of Doing Business Index ranking of 16 worldwide, likely reflect some dividends from the country's efforts to eradicate corruption with a zero-tolerance anti-corruption campaign.
But it is also important to note that high perceived corruption does not always translate into lower Ease of Doing Business Index rankings -- particularly in developed countries with higher GDPs...
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