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Russia and China come bottom of bribe-paying survey | Russia and China come bottom of bribe-paying survey |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Companies from Russia and China are most likely to pay bribes when doing business abroad, a new survey suggests.The two scored worst out of 28 countries in a poll of 3,000 business executives conducted by anti-corruption group Transparency International (TI). | Companies from Russia and China are most likely to pay bribes when doing business abroad, a new survey suggests.The two scored worst out of 28 countries in a poll of 3,000 business executives conducted by anti-corruption group Transparency International (TI). |
The Netherlands and Switzerland came top, while the UK ranked eighth, just ahead of the US and France. | The Netherlands and Switzerland came top, while the UK ranked eighth, just ahead of the US and France. |
Bribery was reportedly most common to win public sector works and construction contracts. | Bribery was reportedly most common to win public sector works and construction contracts. |
'No integrity' | 'No integrity' |
"It is of particular concern that China and Russia are at the bottom of the index," said TI in its report. | "It is of particular concern that China and Russia are at the bottom of the index," said TI in its report. |
"Given the increasing global presence of businesses from the countries, bribery and corruption are likely to have a substantial impact on societies in which they operate and on the ability of companies to compete fairly in these markets." | "Given the increasing global presence of businesses from the countries, bribery and corruption are likely to have a substantial impact on societies in which they operate and on the ability of companies to compete fairly in these markets." |
Other major developing economies came much higher up the rankings. India was 19th, while Brazil, in 14th place, was one spot ahead of Italy. | Other major developing economies came much higher up the rankings. India was 19th, while Brazil, in 14th place, was one spot ahead of Italy. |
The report called for more international action to outlaw companies from paying bribes in foreign countries. | The report called for more international action to outlaw companies from paying bribes in foreign countries. |
"G20 governments must tackle foreign bribery as a matter of urgency," said Huguette Labelle, chair of TI, who said that more resources must be dedicated to investigations and prosecutions. | "G20 governments must tackle foreign bribery as a matter of urgency," said Huguette Labelle, chair of TI, who said that more resources must be dedicated to investigations and prosecutions. |
Russia, which came bottom of the league, was seen by TI as a particularly challenging case. | Russia, which came bottom of the league, was seen by TI as a particularly challenging case. |
"Unfortunately... there are no islands of integrity in Russian public and business life," said TI Russian director, Elena Panfilova. | "Unfortunately... there are no islands of integrity in Russian public and business life," said TI Russian director, Elena Panfilova. |
'Cheating taxpayers' | 'Cheating taxpayers' |
Survey respondents were asked to say how likely companies from each of the foreign countries were to offer back-handers. | Survey respondents were asked to say how likely companies from each of the foreign countries were to offer back-handers. |
Bribe-paying was seen as much more common by businessmen from countries whose governments were also considered to have the least integrity, according to a separate "corruption perceptions" survey carried out by TI last year. | Bribe-paying was seen as much more common by businessmen from countries whose governments were also considered to have the least integrity, according to a separate "corruption perceptions" survey carried out by TI last year. |
The sector most affected by bribery was public procurement - where companies compete to win contracts from governments for everything from waste collection to road building. | The sector most affected by bribery was public procurement - where companies compete to win contracts from governments for everything from waste collection to road building. |
TI noted that the nature of public sector contracts - which are usually large, complex and involve many sub-contractors - makes it much easier to inflate costs and hide inappropriate payments. | TI noted that the nature of public sector contracts - which are usually large, complex and involve many sub-contractors - makes it much easier to inflate costs and hide inappropriate payments. |
However, TI said that paying bribes to win major infrastructure and housing projects "effectively cheats taxpayers out of their money" and can undermine safety standards. | However, TI said that paying bribes to win major infrastructure and housing projects "effectively cheats taxpayers out of their money" and can undermine safety standards. |
The survey indicated that companies paid bribes almost as routinely to other businesses as they do to government officials. | The survey indicated that companies paid bribes almost as routinely to other businesses as they do to government officials. |
The mining and the oil and gas sectors - in which Russia and China are most active - also scored low in the poll. | The mining and the oil and gas sectors - in which Russia and China are most active - also scored low in the poll. |
Agriculture was considered the least bribe-prone, while banking ranked the fourth least-corrupt out of 19 industries. | Agriculture was considered the least bribe-prone, while banking ranked the fourth least-corrupt out of 19 industries. |
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