Question

What does a lower score on the Corruption Perception Index (e.g., closer to 0) indicate?

• A. Less corruption
• B. More corruption
• C. Higher transparency
• D. Better governance

Answer 1

Answer:

B. More corruption

Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) Fundamentals

• The Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) is an annual index published by Transparency International, a global non-governmental organization based in Berlin.
• The index ranks 180 countries and territories by their perceived levels of public sector corruption according to experts and business people.
• Scoring Methodology: The CPI uses a scale of 0 to 100.
• Interpretation of Scores:
  • 0 (Highly Corrupt): A score closer to 0 indicates a perception of high levels of systemic corruption within the country's public institutions.
  • 100 (Very Clean): A score closer to 100 indicates a perception of very low levels of corruption or high integrity in the public sector.
• The index aggregates data from multiple sources, including the World Bank, the World Economic Forum, and private risk consultancies.
• It focuses exclusively on public sector corruption, which includes bribery, diversion of public funds, officials using their public office for private gain, and the government's ability to enforce integrity mechanisms.
• The CPI is widely considered the most cited indicator of corruption globally and is a standard metric used by international organizations to assess governance and institutional health.