A new report from Transparency International indicates that while Denmark remains the least corrupt nation, Finland follows closely in a time when overall global corruption appears to be rising.
A recent study by Transparency International, focusing on public sector corruption, has revealed troubling trends regarding the state of democracy and governance worldwide. The annual index, released in Berlin, ranked Denmark as the least corrupt country, followed by Finland and Singapore. In stark contrast, the report highlighted that structural corruption is most prevalent in nations like Venezuela, Somalia, and South Sudan, raising alarms over a global deterioration in integrity within governmental systems.
The findings of the report indicate a troubling increase in corruption, with only five countries scoring over 80 points, which reflects a significant decline from a decade ago when twelve nations boasted nearly perfect scores. The scoring system ranges from zero to a hundred, with the average score plummeting to 42, marking the lowest average in ten years and emphasizing the growing challenges in combatting corruption globally.
Another point of concern raised in the report is the rising corruption levels in the United States, where it ranked 29th. The report attributes this decline to factors such as politically motivated prosecutions and questioning the independence of the judiciary, reflecting a negative trend in democratic governance even in traditionally stable democracies. This growing concern may prompt further discussions about the integrity of institutions globally and the need for renewed commitments to combatting corruption effectively.
