DECEMBER 30, 2009

Most Countries Beset by Corruption

The vast majority of countries score below five on a zero-to-10 scale measuring perceptions of public corruption, with zero the worst and 10 the best, according to Transparency International. The organization's 2009 composite index, which draws on various expert and business surveys, shows that corruption spirals out of control when civic institutions are weak. The highest scorers are New Zealand at 9.4, Denmark at 9.3,Singapore and Sweden tied at 9.2, and Switzerland at 9.0. The United States scores a 7.5

Source: Transparency International.