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CORRUPTION PERCEPTIONS INDEX

Frequently asked questions and answers

DR. IFTEKHARUZZAMAN
***The Berlin-based Transparency International publishes the annual Corruption Perception Index (CPI), which provides an international ranking of countries in terms of perceived prevalence of corruption. Bangladesh has been ranked at the bottom of the ranking for the fourth successive year (2001-2004). The CPI 2005 is going to be released on October 18. The following are intended to facilitate clearer understanding of the index and its implications.***
***The country with the lowest score is the one where corruption is perceived to be the highest among those included in the list. The index is a measure of perception about the level of corruption -- it does not and cannot brand a country or nation as corrupt. Moreover, there are almost 200 sovereign nations in the world, of which the CPI ranks about 150. CPI provides no information about the countries that are not included.***
What is CPI?
The CPI, prepared under the auspices of the Berlin-based international anticorruption organisation Transparency International (TI), ranks countries annually in terms of the degree to which corruption is perceived to exist among public officials and politicians. It is a composite index, a poll of polls, drawing on corruption-related data from expert surveys carried out by a variety of reputable institutions. It reflects the views of businesspeople and analysts from around the world, including experts who are locals in the countries evaluated.
Is it right to conclude that the country with the lowest score in terms of CPI is the world's most corrupt country?
No. The country with the lowest score is the one where corruption is perceived to be the highest among those included in the list. The index is a measure of perception about the level of corruption -- it does not and cannot brand a country or nation as corrupt. Moreover, there are almost 200 sovereign nations in the world, of which the CPI ranks about 150. CPI provides no information about the countries that are not included.
What then is implied by Bangladesh's ranking according to CPI?
According to CPI, corruption in Bangladesh has been perceived to be the highest in the world for the fourth successive year from 2001. This does not, however, justify that Bangladesh is the “most corrupt country” or “most corrupt nation.” To say so represents misinterpretation and misunderstanding of the CPI. While corruption is indeed the most formidable challenge against governance, development, and poverty reduction in Bangladesh, the vast majority of the people are only victims of corruption. Corruption by a limited number of powerful individuals and the failure of leadership and institutions to control and prevent corruption cannot justify suggestions that the country or nation or the people are most corrupt.
What is Transparency International Bangladesh's (TIB) role in CPI?
TIB has no role in CPI. TI secretariat in Berlin prepares this ranking. TIB, like any other national chapter of TI, is not involved nor does it provide any information that goes into the index. While TIB has its own anti-corruption research, advocacy, and citizens' participation programs in Bangladesh, as the national chapter of TI in Bangladesh, TIB's responsibility as far as CPI goes, is no more than facilitating its release when the report is available.
Is TIB responsible for any embarrassment caused to Bangladesh in terms of CPI?
No, nor can TI or the other institu-tion(s) whose information are used in CPI ranking, be held responsible for the embarrassment. Those who are involved in corruption are responsi-
ble and hence should be held accountable, not those who are reporting or researching on it.
For the purpose of the CPI, how is corruption defined?
The CPI defines corruption as the abuse of public office for private gain. The surveys used in compiling the CPI ask questions that relate to the misuse of public power for private benefit, with a focus, for example, on bribe-taking by public officials in public procurement. The sources do not distinguish between administrative and political corruption or between petty and grand corruption.
Why is the CPI based only on perceptions?
It is difficult to base comparative statements on the levels of corruption in different countries on hard empirical data, e.g., by comparing the number of prosecutions or court cases. Such cross-country data does not reflect levels of corruption; rather it highlights the quality of prosecutors, courts and/or the media in exposing corruption. The only available method so far of compiling data for international comparison is therefore to build on the experience and perceptions of those who are confronted with corruption in a country.
What are the sources of data for the CPI?
The CPI draws on about 16 different polls and surveys conducted by about 10 independent institutions. To qualify, the survey work must be performed with complete
integrity, and the data has to be of the
highest quality, well documented, and sufficient to permit a judgement on its reliability. Since fundamental changes in the levels of corruption in a country evolve only slowly, CPI is based on a three-year rolling average. For instance, CPI 2005 will be based on surveys provided between 2003 and 2005.
The institutions include: Columbia University, Economist Intelligence Unit, Freedom House, Information International, International Institute for Management Development, a multilateral development bank, Merchant International Group, Political and Economic Risk Consultancy, Transparency International/Gallup International, World Bank/European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, World Economic Forum, and World Markets Research Centre.
What are the sources of data specific to Bangladesh?
In case of Bangladesh, sources of data for the latest CPI are seven surveys conducted by five organisations: Economist Intelligence Unit, Columbia University, World Economic Forum, the Merchants International Group, and World Markets Research Centre.
Whose opinion is polled by these surveys?
Surveys are carried out among businesspeople, country analysts, and residents of countries. It is important to note that residents' viewpoints are found to correlate
well with those of experts from abroad. The CPI gathers perceptions that are broadly based, not biased by cultural preconditions, and not only generated by US and European experts.
How is the index computed?
The CPI methodology is regularly reviewed by a steering committee consisting of leading international experts in the fields of corruption, econometrics and statistics. The statistical work on the CPI is coordinated at the University of Passau, Germany.
What are other relevant indexes or tools?
TI also publishes the Global Corruption Barometer, which is concerned with attitudes toward and experiences of corruption among the general public. Over time, the Global Corruption Barometer, which was first published in 2003, will provide an indicator of the impact of the fight against corruption within countries.
In addition, TI's Bribe Payers Index focuses on the propensity of firms in leading export countries to bribe abroad -- creating the 'supply side' of corruption. The BPI underlines the point that corruption in international business transactions involves those who give as well as those who take, and the BPI is therefore a complement to the CPI. Further information on CPI and related issues can be obtained from TI website www.transparency.org
About TIB
TIB is an independent, nongovernment, non-partisan, and nonprofit organisation with a vision of Bangladesh in which government, politics, business, civil society, and the daily lives of the people shall be free from corruption. More in www.ti-bangladesh.org
As TI's accredited national chapter in Bangladesh, TIB partners and cooperates with TI and its chapters worldwide. However, TIB is fully independent in terms of its strategies, policies and programs for anticorruption movement in Bangladesh. TIB also raises its own funds and receives no financial support from TI, except for specific projects undertaken from time to time jointly with other chapters.
TIB's mission, and the various activities it undertakes -- research, dissemination, campaign and advocacy -- are geared to catalyse a participatory social movement for strengthening institutions, laws and practices for combating corruption in Bangladesh and establishing an efficient and transparent system of governance, politics and business.
TIB works against corruption, not against the government of the day, nor any particular department thereof. TIB has no mandate or capacity to investigate or take action against individual cases or allegations of corruption -- big or small. TIB is a co-stakeholder and a source of support to all anti-corruption initiatives, including those by the government.
Dr. Iftekharuzzaman is Executive Director, TIB