Transparency International’s Global Corruption Barometer (the Barometer) is the largest cross-country survey to collect the general public’s views on and experiences of corruption.
In 2010 the Barometer interviewed more than 91,500 people in 86 countries, making it the most comprehensive edition since it was launched in 2003. The Barometer explores the general public’s views about corruption levels in their country and their government’s efforts to fight corruption. The 2010 Barometer also probes the frequency of bribery, reasons for paying a bribe in the past year, and attitudes towards reporting incidents of corruption.
The Barometer complements the views of country analysts and businesspeople represented in Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index1 and Bribe Payers Index2, gathering the general public’s perceptions about how key institutions are affected by corruption. The 2010 Barometer also explores whom people trust the most to fight corruption in their countries.
The questions in the Barometer vary from year to year. As a result, time comparisons are limited to questions that have been included in two or more editions. A general approach to comparisons over time for the 2010 Barometer is to compare this year’s findings with those earliest available for that question. In all cases, the years compared are indicated in the table or graphic accompanying the analysis of changes over time.
Public views on corruption are of critical importance. They offer significant insight into how corruption affects lives around the world. Transparency International believes it is critical to present the general public’s perspective on corruption – for it is they who suffer its direct and indirect consequences around the world. At the same time, Transparency International encourages the public to play an active role in stopping corruption and improving governance. To this end, this year’s edition of the Barometer probes for the first time public willingness to engage with the fight against corruption.
Now in its seventh edition, the Barometer offers a unique opportunity to explore how people’s perceptions of corruption and encounters with bribery have changed over time in a number of countries.