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A global view on corruption levels.
The Corruption Perception Index (CPI) is a Transparency International resource that serves as an indicator of corruption in public sectors globally. Annually, Transparency International publishes a report that offers a view of the relative degree of corruption in countries and territories worldwide. In 2019, 180 countries were evaluated by experts through 13 surveys, giving each country a score ranging from zero (highly corrupt) to one hundred (free of corruption). This year's report showed that corruption levels are higher in countries where money can flow freely and end up financing electoral campaigns and where governments only listens to the voices of well-connected wealthy individuals.More than two thirds of the countries scored less than 50 points, including those with the most advanced economies in the world, which represents a major stagnation in the efforts to curb corruption worldwide. Countries such as Canada, Nicaragua and Australia were highlighted due to a significant decrease in their scores from 2012 to 2019. Canada, Angola and Saudi Arabia are in countries to watch because of their particular local situations. In the last 8 years, 22 countries improved their corruption rates significantly, including Greece, Guyana and Estonia. 21 countries lowered their scores, worsening their levels of corruption. The remaining countries had no major changes in their scores, which reflects the stagnation of anti-corruption measures.
The countries with the best scores worldwide (and least corrupted) are Denmark in the first place, followed by New Zealand, Finland, Singapore, Sweden, Switzerland, Norway, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Germany, Iceland and Canada.
On the other hand, at the bottom of the count are the countries with the lowest scores and highest level of corruption. In the last place is Somalia with the worst score, followed by South Sudan, Syria, Yemen, Afghanistan, Sudan, Equatorial Guinea and Venezuela.
Happiness and Corruption, two global indicators of emerging importance.
If we compare the Transparency International reports on global corruption with the United Nations World Happiness Report, some interesting facts about these global indicators of well-being, development and corruption and their relationship with each other will emerge.
It is no accident that countries like Finland, which was named the happiest country in the world by the 2019 report, are among the first countries in the Transparency International count with the second best score in the world. This means, in the particular case of Finland, that strict regulations in the monetary administration of money in politics, a solid democracy, policies that protect citizens in their most basic needs such as health, education, work and family, seem to be the magic formula to keep a nation productive and happy.
Similarly, other countries in northern Europe such as Denmark, Sweden, Switzerland, Norway, the Netherlands, Iceland, as well as New Zealand, share the first places in both counts, reflecting high levels of happiness and low levels of corruption.
It is likely that there is a very strong inversely proportional relationship between low levels of corruption and happiness in the population of a nation.
Countries such as South Sudan, Afghanistan, Yemen and Haiti have in common that they share in both reports the last places with the worst scores.
If we analyze Venezuela at the regional picture, which obtained the worst score in the 2019 happiness report within the Latin America region, it is also among the lowest scores in the corruption report. Venezuela is going through a major crisis, these indicators should not be overlooked as they are a reflection of the population's perception regarding their quality of life. In this case, failed socio-economic policies and corruption levels so high that they are perceived in everyday life and not only in the political sphere, it all has made Venezuela sinked in an environment of impoverishment and social, economic and emotional deterioration.
Political Integrity of the Nations.
In the 2019 report, particular emphasis is placed on the relationship between politicians, money and corruption. It is not a surprise that the countries that obtained the highest scores have strict regulations on the financing of highly participatory political campaigns and democratic processes. It is important to keep large funds away from politicians to ensure the correct use of money, to serve the public's best interest and avoid embezzlement.
"The lack of real progress against corruption in most countries is disappointing and has profound negative effects on world citizenship," says Patricia Moreira, executive director of Transparency International. “To have any chance of reducing corruption and improving people's lives, we must end the relationship between politics and large money flows. All citizens must be represented in the decision-making processes”.
More aggressive and specific measures are needed to fight corruption worldwide. In the Transparency International report, some measures that governments and nations should take to fight corruption are suggested.
Recommendations for governments, according to Transparency International.
- Control political financing to prevent excessive flow of money in politics.
- End preferential treatment to ensure that the provision of services and the distribution of public resources do not respond to personal connections or are biased towards certain interest groups.
- Manage conflicts of interest.
- Promotion of transparent and broad access to decision-making processes.
- Strengthen electoral integrity, prevent and punish deceptive campaigns.
- Empower citizens, protect activists, informants and journalists.
- Strengthen control systems and promote separation of powers.
Empower the Citizens.
This is a key point in the eradication of corruption, empowered individuals, economically independent and happy, can build a fullfilled and efficient nation.
A rich nation that distributes its wealth within the population would guarantee everyone's access to goods and services, as well as education. Not only donations of misery from the government to the most disadvantaged, but access to wealth in a fair and equitable manner. Individuals should not have the need to fall into corrupt practices if wealth is distributed equitably, always promoting education, honest work and the integral formation of all people. An educated nation is a happy nation.
Control Political Financing.
Each politician who is elected by his people must be subject to periodic evaluation of his activity. It is important that the work of the politician is not distorted, after all, they are public employees who must ensure the welfare of the people they represent. Likewise, strict regulations on the financing of political activity and the access of politicians to monetary funds should be implemented, to avoid misuse.
What should we do?
It is very clear that these suggestions must be carried out by the same government, it is necessary that the government of a nation change from the inside so that the measures implemented take effect and in turn have an effect on the entire population.
But what can an individual do?
The nations of the future are built in the minds of individuals, every action begins with an idea. Ideas have the potential to change the world. If we want to change the world, we must start with ourselves. We must be the change we want and not just wait for others to change. It is us, one by one, that will make the world a better place.
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