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Belgium among least corrupt countries, report says
According to an annual survey by the NGO Transparency International, corruption is highest in countries where the economy is growing rapidly, such as Turkey, China and Angola. Belgium ranks 15th in the survey, making it one of the least corrupt countries in the world, the press agency Belga reports. Denmark tops the list as the least corrupt state.
The Corruption Perception Index (CPI) gives 175 countries a score between 0, highly corrupt, and 100, corruption-free, based on estimations by corruption experts from the public sector. The 2014 index was headed by Denmark with a score of 92 out of 100, followed by New Zealand and Finland. The Nordic countries also score well, with Sweden and Norway completing the top five.
This is followed by Switzerland, Singapore, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and Canada. Belgium comes in 15th place with 76 points. As for the rest of Belgium’s neighbouring countries, Germany scores better (12th place), while France has more corruption (26th).
At the bottom of the list are North Korea and Somalia, preceded by the governments in Sudan, Afghanistan, South Sudan and Iraq.
Comments
My perception is that Belgium is as corrupt as hell, but perhaps I am confusing corruption with the sheer numbers I know in Belgium that are working in the black economy or fiddling the unemployment and sickness benefits.
Yeah, right. Imo, if a country is really corrupt, including a corrupt power/political structure, then it's not that hard to hide the level of actual corruption.
@Mikek, Anon and friends -- With obvious sympathy, fortitude and honesty like yours, living in such a pool of inequity must be agony for you! Why not head for brighter shores where (human nature being what it is) everything is sweetness and light? Good luck and God bless!
Oh look, the inane "why don't you go elsewhere" comment and one I suspect is from somebody not paying local taxation and probably with no idea what is going on on the ground.
FYI, ACS, I took your advice some time ago.
Er, I think the word 'perception' in 'The Corruption Perception Index' gives this away.
Corrupt might not be the right word. 'Latin' might be.... ?
@Mikeke1 -- "Inane" is it? What a big word, used over and over again in the House of Commons no doubt. (Hardly the kind of word used in the House of Lords much). Why not add a "S" somewhere, after the 2nd letter, and speak for yourself?
@CMabey -- This country isn't altogether "Latin", somehow - 'Honi soit....'.