Social Accountability in Central America
Social Accountability in Central America
Governments and businesses interact to generate wealth. The quality and transparency of a government influence on competitiveness and growth. Political institutions go farther than the legal environment, their attitudes and efficiency impact economic costs to businesses and the economic development.
The government and businesses are more honest in some countries than others. The 2011 Corruption Perceptions Index ranks 183 countries based on how corrupt their public sector is perceived by their citizens. The majority of the countries assessed are below five on a scale of 0 to 10 (highly corrupt to very clean). At the top list are New Zealand, Denmark and Finland; while at the bottom is North Korea. Mexico is placed in 100th with a score of 3.
The Bribe Payers Index score 28 of the world’s largest economies according to companies from these countries to pay bribes abroad. China and Russia companies spent $120 billion on bribes in 2010, while companies from the Netherlands are the less likely to pay bribes. Mexico is at the bottom, placed at 26 with a score of 7 (0-10, never bribe to always do it).
Companies and governments can carry out different strategies to fight corruption and unethical activities. Education has an important role, it is essential to teach about corruption, to increase awareness of it in all of its ways and to train people from common employees to businesspeople with the tools to attack it. Corruption and bribery need to be prosecuted and whistleblowers need to be protected. Effective evaluation systems are required to know if commitments and goals are being met. Organizations must publish their operations, profits, investments and demonstrate transparency in their business. Governments must impose international anti-bribery laws and conventions to promote an honest operating environment. This will help to guarantee accountability worldwide.
It is not only a task of businesses and governments, it
Governments and businesses interact to generate wealth. The quality and transparency of a government influence on competitiveness and growth. Political institutions go farther than the legal environment, their attitudes and efficiency impact economic costs to businesses and the economic development.
The government and businesses are more honest in some countries than others. The 2011 Corruption Perceptions Index ranks 183 countries based on how corrupt their public sector is perceived by their citizens. The majority of the countries assessed are below five on a scale of 0 to 10 (highly corrupt to very clean). At the top list are New Zealand, Denmark and Finland; while at the bottom is North Korea. Mexico is placed in 100th with a score of 3.
The Bribe Payers Index score 28 of the world’s largest economies according to companies from these countries to pay bribes abroad. China and Russia companies spent $120 billion on bribes in 2010, while companies from the Netherlands are the less likely to pay bribes. Mexico is at the bottom, placed at 26 with a score of 7 (0-10, never bribe to always do it).
Companies and governments can carry out different strategies to fight corruption and unethical activities. Education has an important role, it is essential to teach about corruption, to increase awareness of it in all of its ways and to train people from common employees to businesspeople with the tools to attack it. Corruption and bribery need to be prosecuted and whistleblowers need to be protected. Effective evaluation systems are required to know if commitments and goals are being met. Organizations must publish their operations, profits, investments and demonstrate transparency in their business. Governments must impose international anti-bribery laws and conventions to promote an honest operating environment. This will help to guarantee accountability worldwide.
It is not only a task of businesses and governments, it
References: Transparency International (2012). Corruption Perceptions Index 2011. Retrieved from: http://cpi.transparency.org/cpi2011/results/ Transparency International (2012). Bribe Payers Index Report 2011. Retrieved from: http://bpi.transparency.org/bpi2011/results/