14 Feb

Corruption Perceptions Index 2023: part one

Courtheath's blog
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The 2023 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), released by Transparency International, issues a stark warning: the global fight against corruption has reached a stalemate, with the vast majority of countries showing little to no progress in the fight against public sector corruption.

In the first of this two-part series, we discuss the CPI, and then offer an overview of the 2023 CPI findings and recommendations. In part two, we will focus on the Asia Pacific region and Australia, particularly in terms of rankings, findings, and trends.

Understanding the CPI

Established in 1993 in Berlin, Germany, Transparency International has been at the forefront of the global fight against corruption. The NGO has presented the CPI, a leading global indicator of public sector corruption, since 1995. The index ranks 180 countries and territories based on expert and businessperson perceptions of corruption trends. Scores range from 0 (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean). A score below 50 indicates serious corruption problems.

CPI 2023: Key Findings

  • Global Average Unchanged: The global average CPI score remains at 43, demonstrating corruption's continued stronghold.
  • Two-Thirds Stagnant: More than two-thirds of countries have scores below 50, and this year 23 countries fell to their lowest scores to date. These results reveal an urgent need for action.
  • Impunity Undermines Justice: CPI data reflects declining justice systems worldwide. This decline strongly correlates with unchecked corruption.
  • Link to Conflict and Security: Countries with the lowest CPI scores often experience armed conflict or authoritarianism, highlighting corruption's role in undermining peace and stability.
  • Many Nations at Historic Lows: A significant number of countries are at all-time lows in terms of public sector integrity, indicating worsening corruption concerns.

Regional Results: A Snapshot

Americas: (43 – average score)

  • Top: Canada (76). Bottom: Venezuela (13).

Asia Pacific: (45)

  • Top: New Zealand (85). Australia: (75). Bottom: North Korea (17).

Eastern Europe & Central Asia: (35)

  • Top: Georgia (53). Bottom: Turkmenistan (18).

Middle East & North Africa: (39)

  • Top: United Arab Emirates (68). Bottom: Syria (13).

Sub-Saharan Africa: (33).

  • Top: Seychelles (71). Bottom: Somalia (11).

Western Europe & EU: (65)

  • Top: Denmark (90). Bottom: Hungary (42).

Country Rankings

Top and bottom performers For the sixth consecutive year, Denmark leads the index with a score of 90, followed by Finland and New Zealand, scoring 87 and 85, respectively. Norway scores 84, Singapore 83, and both Sweden and Switzerland 82. The Netherlands scores 79, with Germany and Luxembourg both scoring 78, rounding off the top 10, with Australia ranked at 14 with a score of 75.

Meanwhile, nations in conflict or those with limited freedoms and weak democratic frameworks tend to have lower scores. Somalia has the lowest score of 11, with Venezuela, Syria, and South Sudan each scoring 13. Following them is Yemen at 16, Nicaragua, North Korea, Haiti, and Equatorial Guinea each scoring 17, and both Turkmenistan, and Libya with scores of 18.

CPI 2023 Report Recommendations: How to Create a More Just World

Based on research and collaboration in over 100 countries, here are key recommendations for governments seeking to tackle corruption, promote justice, and build a stronger rule of law:

Strengthen Judicial Independence

  • Protect from Interference: A justice system must be shielded from influence, ensuring its proper functioning.
  • Prioritise Merit: Appointments should be based on qualifications, not political connections. Ensure the system has skilled staff with adequate resources.

Enhance Transparency

  • Open Procedures: Make judgments, settlements, enforcement actions, and legal systems more accessible to public scrutiny. This promotes accountability and ensures anti-corruption laws are effectively implemented.
  • Transparency Deters Corruption: Public access to information about legal proceedings helps uncover improper practices and encourages fair application of the law.

Integrity and Monitoring

  • Safeguard Ethics: Maintain the necessary protections for actors within the justice system while discouraging any abuse of those protections.
  • Prevent Misconduct: Reporting channels, asset disclosure requirements, and fair compensation discourage abuse of power within the legal profession.

Effective Collaboration

  • Systemic Cooperation: Clearly define responsibilities across the various parts of the justice system to enable more effective cooperation and coordination.
  • Formal & Informal Systems: Where informal justice systems exist, exploring synergies with the formal structure can benefit both and help to improve access to legal mechanisms.

Improve Access to Justice

  • Protecting Access: Upholding equal access to justice combats impunity and corruption.
  • Simplified Processes: Removing unnecessary bureaucracy ensures procedures are understood by all, making the legal system less intimidating.
  • Expanded Victim Definition: Broadening the 'victim of corruption' category beyond the state helps in obtaining redress.
  • CSO Rights: Allowing qualified civil society organisations to represent victims and pursue cases promotes fairness and empowers those disadvantaged by corruption.

Accountability for Grand Corruption

  • Cross-Border Jurisdiction: Nations with a weak rule of law may be unable to prosecute corruption within their borders. Stronger judicial systems must take on such cases to fight global networks of corrupt actors.
  • Procedural Measures: Laws with wider jurisdiction, minimising immunity for corrupt foreign officials, and enabling citizen and NGO legal action create greater opportunities to hold the powerful accountable.

Resources

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Image: Transparency International

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A participant in the UN Global Compact, CourtHeath seeks to raise awareness about the Sustainable Development Goals and the principles of the Global Compact with business and government organisations in Victoria.

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Written by Wendy Cavenett and Elizabeth Tower

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