Global corruption perceptions index (CPI)
The World Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) is generated by Transparency International and is based on data from various sources that measure perceptions of public sector corruption in different countries.
Key Variables Selected for CPI Index generation
Transparency International aggregates data from these sources, standardizing the scores on a scale from 0 (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean). This process involves:
- Standardizing scores from different sources to ensure comparability.
- Combining multiple data points for each country to calculate an average score.
- Weighting the data based on the reliability and validity of each source.
CPI Index Data Sources
- World Bank Country Policy and Institutional Assessment (CPIA): Assesses the quality of a country’s policy and institutional frameworks.
- World Economic Forum Executive Opinion Survey: Gathers insights from business leaders worldwide, focusing on the ease of doing business, including perceptions of corruption.
- Bertelsmann Stiftung Transformation Index (BTI): Evaluates the quality of democracy, market economy, and political management in developing and transition countries, including corruption.
- Economist Intelligence Unit Country Risk Service: Provides expert analysis of political, economic, and business environments, including corruption levels.
- International Country Risk Guide (ICRG): Measures risk by analyzing political, financial, and economic risk, including the extent of corruption.
- Global Insight Country Risk Ratings: Analyzes risks associated with corruption in various countries.
- Political and Economic Risk Consultancy (PERC): Specializes in political and economic risk analysis for Asia-Pacific, including corruption.
- IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook: Assesses the competitiveness of nations, with corruption as one factor in its analysis.
- Varieties of Democracy (V-Dem): Offers data on democracy, including indicators on corruption within different branches of government.
- PRC Asia Intelligence Risk Guide: Provides detailed country reports with specific attention to political, financial, and economic risks, including corruption.
- Global Insight Business Conditions and Risk Indicators: Focuses on the overall risk environment, including corruption.
Conclusion
The CPI aggregates and standardizes this data, which is collected within the two years leading up to the publication of the index, to form a score between 0 (highly corrupt) and 100 (very clean). This methodology helps ensure that the CPI reflects a broad consensus of informed perceptions rather than relying on a single source. The final CPI score for each country reflects a composite measure of perceived corruption, providing an annual snapshot that allows for comparisons across countries and over time. In summary, the CPI is based on perceptions of public sector corruption derived from multiple reputable sources, standardized and aggregated to provide a comparative measure of corruption globally.
