Thailand ranks 80th in global corruption index

Post by **buksida** » Wed Sep 24, 2008 1:31 pm

The Berlin-based anti-corruption watchdog organisation Transparency International (TI) in its 2008 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) on Tuesday, ranked Thailand 80th among the 180 nations and territories.

The CPI score indicates the degree of corruption perceived by businessmen and country analysts, which ranges between zero -- indicating extreme corruption, to 10 -- which is clean, honest and transparent.

Denmark, Sweden and New Zealand shared first place with the highest score of 9.3 points each, followed immediately by Singapore at 9.2.

Thailand along with Burkina Faso, Brazil, Saudi Arabia and Morocco shared 80th place, each scoring 3.5. Thailand in 2007 earned a 3.3 rating from Transparency International and was ranked 84th.

Juree Vichit-vadakarn, secretary-general of Bangkok-based Transparency Thailand, told a press conference that among those Asian countries, Singapore scored highest with 9.2 while Myanmar with 1.3 came next to last, a position occupied by Somalia which scored only 1.

South Korea was ranked 40th at 5.6, a considerable improvement from it last year's ranking of 5.1, due to good management on eliminating corruption practices, especially among politicians and senior executives, and a strong public sector, said the secretary-general.

The secretary-general of Transparency Thailand said that the country improved this year in the eyes of Thai and foreign investors as they believed fewer incidents of the practice of soliciting 'tea-money' in return of favours were conducted.

However, Thailand still lacked cooperation among people because such undesirable practices continued.

Thailand's leaders must be "good role models," Ms. Juree said, adding that they must also posses a higher ethics than the general public.

Source: MCOT

Thought: Things are looking up, four places in the right direction!

Spitfire · Post by **Spitfire** » Wed Sep 24, 2008 2:30 pm

buksida wrote:Thailand along with Burkina Faso, Brazil, Saudi Arabia and Morocco shared 80th place, each scoring 3.5.....................

Thailand's leaders must be "good role models," Ms. Juree said, adding that they must also posses a higher ethics than the general public.

Such distinguished company, surprised Saudi did that bad, but then again.

Second one, ha ha, that's a good one! Come back to earth madam.

Post by **charlesh** » Thu Sep 25, 2008 6:58 am

here's me thinking CPI was consumer price index.
PCFI would be better - perceived anti corruption index. We could set up a committee and study it. Speaking of corruption .......!!!!
They do that well in Europe as long as U don't mention the war!
Charles H

Post by **Guess** » Thu Sep 25, 2008 7:55 am

buksida wrote:......... Saudi Arabia and Morocco shared 80th place, each scoring 3.5..........

spitfire wrote: Such distinguished company, surprised Saudi did that bad, but then again........

I am surprised at Saudi and Morocco. I think you may find many of the Arabic Muslim counties around the same area. What is normal and acceptable in Islamic business culture is unacceptable and even illegal in the west. An example, if still practiced, is the giving of gifts for business awards. In certain circles it is expected that gifts should accompany business deals.

The interesting stats here for Thailand are South Korea and Singapore. Singapore shows that it is possible to be a success without corruption and South Korea shows that you can do something about it and increase prosperity for all.

I see the UK and the US are conspicuous by their absence from the report.

Spitfire · Post by **Spitfire** » Thu Sep 25, 2008 10:35 am

Yeah Guess, I suppose, when you think about it, there have been a few high profile and 'more than questionable' deals gone on that have made it into the news in the last 20 or so years. Those are only the ones that were 'outed' aswell.

Arms procurement, I suppose, is the most 'glaring' example.

Didn't BA recently get into trouble with this, along with The Government about calling off an audit or something similar?

Post by **2dandan** » Tue Sep 30, 2008 3:20 am

2008 CORRUPTION PERCEPTIONS INDEX

1 Denmark
1 New Zealand
1 Sweden
4 Singapore
5 Finland
5 Switzerland
7 Iceland
7 Netherlands
9 Australia
9 Canada
11 Luxembourg
12 Austria
12 Hong Kong
14 Germany
14 Norway
16 Ireland
16 United Kingdom
18 Belgium
18 Japan
18 USA
21 Saint Lucia
22 Barbados
23 Chile
23 France
23 Uruguay
26 Slovenia
27 Estonia
28 Qatar
28 Saint Vincent and the
Grenadines
28 Spain
31 Cyprus
32 Portugal
33 Dominica
33 Israel
35 United Arab Emirates
36 Botswana
36 Malta
36 Puerto Rico
39 Taiwan
40 South Korea
41 Mauritius
41 Oman
43 Bahrain
43 Macao
45 Bhutan
45 Czech Republic
47 Cape Verde
47 Costa Rica
47 Hungary
47 Jordan
47 Malaysia
52 Latvia
52 Slovakia
54 South Africa
55 Italy
55 Seychelles
57 Greece
58 Lithuania
58 Poland
58 Turkey
61 Namibia
62 Croatia
62 Samoa
62 Tunisia
65 Cuba
65 Kuwait
67 El Salvador
67 Georgia
67 Ghana
70 Colombia
70 Romania
72 Bulgaria
72 China
72 Macedonia (Former Yugoslav Republic of)
72 Mexico
72 Peru
72 Suriname
72 Swaziland
72 Trinidad and Tobago
80 Brazil
80 Burkina Faso
80 Morocco
80 Saudi Arabia
80 Thailand
85 Albania
85 India
85 Madagascar
85 Montenegro
85 Panama
85 Senegal
85 Serbia
92 Algeria
92 Bosnia and Herzegovina
92 Lesotho
92 Sri Lanka
96 Benin
96 Gabon
96 Guatemala
96 Jamaica
96 Kiribati
96 Mali
102 Bolivia
102 Djibouti
102 Dominican Republic
102 Lebanon
102 Mongolia
102 Rwanda
102 Tanzania
109 Argentina
109 Armenia
109 Belize
109 Moldova
109 Solomon Islands
109 Vanuatu
115 Egypt
115 Malawi
115 Maldives
115 Mauritania
115 Niger
115 Zambia
121 Nepal
121 Nigeria
121 Sao Tome and Principe
121 Togo
121 Viet Nam
126 Eritrea
126 Ethiopia
126 Guyana
126 Honduras
126 Indonesia
126 Libya
126 Mozambique
126 Uganda
134 Comoros
134 Nicaragua
134 Pakistan
134 Ukraine
138 Liberia
138 Paraguay
138 Tonga
141 Cameroon
141 Iran
141 Philippines
141 Yemen
145 Kazakhstan
145 Timor-Leste
147 Bangladesh
147 Kenya
147 Russia
147 Syria
151 Belarus
151 Central African Republic
151 Côte d´Ivoire
151 Ecuador
151 Laos
151 Papua New Guinea
151 Taijikistan
158 Angola
158 Azerbaijan
158 Burundi
158 Congo, Republic
158 Gambia
158 Guinea-Bissau
158 Sierra Leone
158 Venezuela
166 Cambodia
166 Kyrgyzstan
166 Turkmenistan
166 Uzbekistan
166 Zimbabwe
171 Congo, Democratic Republic
171 Equatorial Guinea
173 Chad
173 Guinea
173 Sudan
176 Afghanistan
177 Haiti
178 Iraq
178 Myanmar
180 Somalia

Post by **margaretcarnes** » Tue Sep 30, 2008 6:58 am

Only 80th?

Post by **johnnyk** » Tue Sep 30, 2008 7:28 am

margaretcarnes wrote:Only 80th?

Well, its in the upper half!
I do like the minor aspects though, for e.g. you can pay your way out of a minor, harmless infraction.
Here in Canada they will force you to pay full whack (unless you are a politician).

Super Joe · Post by **Super Joe** » Tue Sep 30, 2008 4:51 pm

johnnyk wrote:I do like the minor aspects though, for e.g. you can pay your way out of a minor, harmless infraction.

Agree Johnny, and also more importantly any un-intentional major infractions.
Farangs are so hypocritical about this issue it's untrue. We all do/would take advantage of it when it suits, every single one of us.

SJ

Post by **Guess** » Tue Sep 30, 2008 8:09 pm

I saw a desirability report a few years ago and it was very similar. I remember Singapore being top and North Korea (not on this list) and Myanmar sharing bottom place just above Somalia.

Hong Kong is a bit suspicious all the way up there. I suppose that official Party corruption doesn't count.

Post by **Sabai Jai** » Tue Sep 30, 2008 8:36 pm

Hong Kong...perhaps they bribed somebody

wohps...bit cynical i supose!

SJ

Post by **dtaai-maai** » Tue Sep 30, 2008 10:29 pm

Guess wrote: I suppose that official Party corruption doesn't count.

Hell, if that counted, where on earth would the UK be?

Post by **2dandan** » Wed Oct 01, 2008 1:35 am

How does this corruption thing work.

If Thailand is 80 and Somalia 180, is it easier to get things done "your" way in Somalia and would it be much much cheaper due to supply (lots of people needing things done) and demand.

Or, is it harder to get things done because you need to pay to get anything/everything done, causing in effect a monopoly, therebye the cost is higher because they can demand and receive anything they like to achieve the desired result.

Just curious like,.... I've been thinking about riding my scooter without a helmet in Somalia.

Post by **STEVE G** » Wed Oct 01, 2008 1:56 am

I wonder if any country tried to bribe their way to a higher position on the table!
Also if a country is more corrupt, is there more corruption going on or more money involved; does it make not wearing a helmet more expensive or cheaper?

Post by **margaretcarnes** » Wed Oct 01, 2008 6:09 am

You are absolutely right SuperJoe, and there are 'backhanders' almost everywhere. But I'm puzzled that Denmark has come out so squeaky clean in the list. Certainly from what I've seen almost everyone there is on the fiddle in some way, from border hopping shopping, to buying cars cheaper in Germany and registering them with (eg) 4 seats, then adding more seats back home to avoid tax. Even local government employers provide huge perks by means of tax free shopping vouchers.
So have these statistics been based on Central Government 'ethics', other peoples perceptions, or what?

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