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Post by kaima on Oct 2, 2008 20:35:14 GMT -7
Poland stands at 58 in a list of 180 countries evaluated for perception of corruption in the country. Denmark came out on top for most honest, with a rating of 9.3 of a possible 10, Somalia 180th place, last at 1.0 Poland ranked 58 with a 4.6, with a statistical range of error from 4.0 to 5.2. They tied with Lithuania and Turkey. You can see the ratings at www.transparency.org/news_room/in_focus/2008/cpi2008/cpi_2008_table and the general page at www.transparency.org/PS. The US rated a 7.3 for 18th place. There seems to be a divide between ratings of Western and formerly Communist Blocks of Europe, with the US falling in between the blocks: 9.0 Switzerland 8.1 Austria 7.9 Germany 5.2 Czech R. 5.1 Hungary 5.0 Slovakia 4.6 Poland
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Post by tuftabis on Oct 3, 2008 0:17:15 GMT -7
There seems to be a divide between ratings of Western and formerly Communist Blocks of Europe, with the US falling in between the blocks: 9.0 Switzerland 8.1 Austria 7.9 Germany 5.2 Czech R. 5.1 Hungary 5.0 Slovakia 4.6 Poland Kai, it is interesting. But let us not take these figures literally. Corruption is not measurable. And the presented results are for corruption perception only. Also I 've noticed that the gap you've noticed might be questioned - that is, if you don't mind of course Look: 5.2 Czech R. 5.1 Hungary 5.0 Slovakia 4.8 Italy4.7 Greece4.6 Poland
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Post by kaima on Oct 3, 2008 8:51:20 GMT -7
Yes, good point, Tufta.
Italy particularly and Greece as well have always been 'exceptional' cases of 'the west'. Your point stands.
In the case of the US I offer two comments, first that the poles were obviously taken before the current economic melt down in the country, so our results would likely be quite different with information gathered today. The second is that we have institutionalized our corruption by the laws and exceptions that we have created. Thus the legislators define the gifts and the favors they are allowed to accept and still remain 'within the law'. So if morality and propriety are not tossed out the window, they are at least defined to where the common statement is "I remained within the law" rather than "I did what was right".
Decades ago I looked upon the news reports out of Italy and told myself that that country seemed to represent the worst in bureaucracy and corruption. Since then I feel we have given them strong competition in exercising unwieldy bureaucracy, while at the same time we have highly revined our own American style of corruption.
Kai PS I enjoy reading these international comparisons, however imperfect they may be. They make good coffee table conversation and give some indication of areas in which we might seek self improvement. The latter is looked upon in America as unpatriotic, as you see often on this forum.
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Post by tuftabis on Oct 4, 2008 2:05:39 GMT -7
joy reading these international comparisons, however imperfect they may be. They make good coffee table conversation and give some indication of areas in which we might seek self improvement. . I agree and I too like them. To 'corruption gap' it may seem there's more traditional North/South gap than East-West one, with Central Europe (or do you in the States call it Eastern Europe?) still struggling with legacy of communism when almost everythig was at somebody's deiscretion and thus prone to corruption.
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