Transparency pays off

Countries with flourishing economies generally attach great importance to transparency. So there seems to be a correlation between the level of development and the level of openness.

Transparency pays off

Corruption is not a minor offence. It has a serious impact on a country’s political stability and economic development. Countries with flourishing economies generally attach great importance to transparency. What’s more, living standards in open societies are often higher than in isolated countries where nepotism is rife. So there seems to be a correlation between the level of development and the level of corruption. And the reverse also applies: development needs transparency.

Making great strides forward

Gehöriger Sprung nach vorn

Honduras and Afghanistan have made major progress on the transparency of their public finances (Open Budget Index, scale from 0 to 100). They are now publishing more information more regularly in reports and on the internet.

Less prone to bribery

Which sectors are least prone to bribery in international business transactions? This was assessed by the OECD, which analysed several hundred cases. The extractive sector is worst affected, scoring 21 per cent.

Curbing corruption

Many countries have started to combat bribery and corruption in recent years, as studies by the World Bank show. Rwanda and Georgia in particular have achieved notable successes.