Somalia and Burma most Corrupt

[Ican]

Somalia and Burma most Corrupt

Burma and Somalia have been jointly ranked by Transparency International as the world's most corrupt countries.

The index is based on perceptions of public sector corruption in 180 countries and territories.

There is strong correlation between poverty and corruption, said Huguette Labelle, chair of the watchdog.

At the bottom of the table, ahead of Somalia and Burma, were Iraq, Haiti, Uzbekistan and Tonga.

Denmark joined Finland and New Zealand at the head of the table, which was compiled by the Berlin-based watchdog. Forty per cent of the countries where corruption is perceived as rampant were classified by the World Bank as low income countries, Transparency International said.

"Despite some gains, corruption remains an enormous drain on resources sorely needed for education, health and infrastructure," Ms Labelle said.


TEN MOST CORRUPT STATES
Somalia
Burma
Iraq
Haiti
Uzbekistan
Tonga
Sudan
Chad
Afghanistan
Laos

Last year, Haiti headed the rankings.

Among those countries whose corruption score had worsened over the past year were Thailand, Austria and Jordan, Transparency International said.

Scores were significantly higher in several African countries in the 2007 index, with Namibia, South African and Swaziland making progress in the fight against corruption.

Gainers were also concentrated in Eastern Europe, with improvements in Croatia, Czech Republic and Romania testament to the impact of the European Union accession process on corruption.

Consistently corrupt

Burma, also known as Myanmar, has consistently ranked among the world's most corrupt countries.

The southeast Asian country is ruled by a military junta which has suppressed almost all dissent.

Tens of thousands of monks and civilians have staged anti-government protests in recent weeks. On Wednesday, Burmese police used batons and tear gas to beat back monks and other demonstrators in Rangoon as a new march began at the city's holiest shrine.


TEN LEAST CORRUPT STATES
Denmark
Finland
New Zealand
Singapore
Sweden
Iceland
Netherlands
Switzerland
Canada
Norway

Somalia has been without an effective central government since a military regime collapsed in 1991.

Years of fighting between rival warlords combined with famine and disease have led to the deaths of up to one million people.

Transparency International said that top scores enjoyed by wealthy countries in Europe, East Asia and North America, did not mean that these places could rest on their laurels.

Corruption often has an international dimension that implicates top scorers, the watchdog said.

Global financial centres play a central role in allowing corrupt officials to hide their ill-gotten gains and bribe money often originates from multinationals based in rich countries.

The UK ranked in joint 12th place with Luxembourg.

[Unclebin-]

A european survey with all European countries and/or there descendants in Canada New Zealand etc

[Ican]

True. North American and european corruption is covert, but somalia and others have no time for PR.

[*jr]

Where is Nigeria in that list? They should be part of the Top Ten, IMO.

[Unclebin-]

The Canadian Government had a multi 100 million dollar sponsorship scandal, the US haliburton and Europeans have there covert crap.

People are 'hooking' up friends and this is not counted as corruption because they are cadaan. Africans and Asians have everything out in the open.

[Ican]

Jr

I was also wondering why they didn't put Zimbabewe in there, considering how Mugabe has kicked out all white farm owners. If it was UK list, Zimbabewe would be at the top of the list.

[*jr]

I would agree. But I find labeling Somalia corrupt state disingenuous...I would say incompetence is more like it.

[Ican]

Jr

I don't agree with this list or any list, if anything these lists show the biases of those who make them. Depending on who's behind it, it would look very different.

Most African and developing countries are corrupt to an extent, but that corruption is usually financed by the west.

[Starscream]

Is this even debatable?

Hell yeah Somalia is the most corrupt nation on earth. Other corrupt countries have boundaries, no matter how far, when it comes to monkey business. Somalis have no boundaries at all and it has become part of our culture, it has become normal to steal. This even relates to the diaspora who are continuously discussing new ways of going through embarrassing lengths for some more green, in their living rooms.

[FAH1223]

We aren't a nation or a state

so we shouldn't even be on the list

[Starscream]

Good point.