Israel is in 32nd place in the Transparency International's 2009 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI). Israel received a score of 6.1 out of 10. Israel was ranked 33rd in 2008, with a score of 6, and was ranked 30th in 2007, with a score of 6.1.
The CPI ranks 180 countries based on perceived levels of public sector corruption. The CPI scores countries on a scale of zero to ten, with zero indicating high levels of corruption and ten, low levels.
This year, Israel tied with Spain, and is ranked below the United Arab Emirates, in 30th place with a score of 6.5, and Qatar, 22nd, with a score of 7.
Nine of the top ten countries in the CPI are members of the OECD. New Zealand is in first place, with a score of 9.4, the first time it has been in first place since 1997. Denmark is in second place, with a score of 9.2; followed by Singapore (the exception) and Sweden with a score of 9.2; Switzerland in fifth place, with a score of 9; Finland, and the Netherlands tied in sixth place, with a score 8.9%; and Australia, Canada, and Iceland tied in eighth place, with a score of 8.7.
The US is ranked 19th, with a score of 7.5.
India and China, where many Israeli companies have extensive commercial ties, scored 3.4 and 3.6, respectively, putting them in 84th and 79th place. Russia is in 146th place, with a score of 2.2, tied with Cameroon, East Timor, Ecuador, Kenya, Sierra Leone, Ukraine, and Zimbabwe. Iran is ranked in 141st place, with a score of 2.3.
Israel's neighbors, which received lower scores include Jordan, in 49th place, with a score of 5; Egypt, in 111th place, with a score of 2.8; and Syria, in 126th place, with a score of 2.6.
Shvil Transparency International Israel chairman Yossi Gross said, "When we examine the findings of the CPI over the years, it can be seen that the way in which corruption is perceived in Israel has been unchanged in the past two years. If we take into account the fact that the recent global economic crisis has resulted in fair play becoming a key consideration in decisions about domestic and foreign business relations, we mustn’t ignore how the world perceives Israeli corruption. Even though we've kept our position, the score shows we have a long way to go, and Israel must intensify the war against corruption."
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on November 17, 2009
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