Transparency International’s 2010 Global Corruption

Barometer

Murray Petrie, Co-Chair, TINZmpetrie@ihug.co.nz

www.transparencynz.org.nz

Chapman Tripp, Wellington, 13 December 2010

Overview

• The Global Corruption Barometer and main global results

• Summary of NZ Results

• Specific issues for NZ

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The Global Corruption Barometer

• Since 2003, an annual survey of public views on and experiences of corruption.

• 2010: 91,500 people surveyed by Gallup in 86 countries June-September.

• NZ included in survey for first time in 2010.• GCR a public survey v Corruption

Perceptions Index (CPI), a survey of business/expert opinion

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Main global results

• 6 out of 10 say it has increased over last 3 years

• 4 out of 10 paid a bribe in last 12 months • Police the most frequent recipient of bribes (29% of those

who had contact)

• The poor and young people may more bribes

• 8 out of 10 say political parties are corrupt or extremely corrupt; civil service and parliament viewed as next most corrupt.

Early draft 4

The NZ Survey

• 1,291 respondents to an email survey by Colmar Brunton June 3 – July 11

• Nationally representative sample• Maximum margin of error +/- 2.8%

(larger for disaggregated data)• TI Berlin did survey design and data collection• Analysis of NZ data with assistance from

TINZ Summer Intern Ben Krieble

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Corruption in NZ seen as increasing in last 3 years

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Level of corruption in NZ

Increased73%

No change23%

Decreased4%

Corruption increased in last 3 years? Cross-national comparisons

Decreased Same Increased

PNG 7% 8% 85%

New Zealand 4% 24% 73%

USA 6% 22% 72%

UK 3% 30% 67%

Vanuatu 13% 23% 64%

Australia 5% 42% 54%

Singapore 28% 33% 38%

Fiji 53% 11% 36%

Denmark 2% 69% 29%7

New Zealanders do pay bribes

• “In the past 12 months have you or anyone in your household paid a bribe in any form…” to one of the following nine institutions/organizations: education system, judiciary, medical services, police, registry/permit services, utilities, tax, land services, customs

• 3.6% answered yes.8

Paid a bribe in the last 12 months? Cross-national comparisons

PNG 26.1%

Solomon Is. 19.7%

Vanuatu 15.5%

Fiji 12.0%

Singapore 8.8%

USA 5.3%

New Zealand 3.6%

Australia 2.4%

UK 1.4%

Denmark 0.4%9

Other NZ evidence(Massey University*)

• As part of the ISSP, a 2006 nationwide random mail survey, 1200 responses, margin of error +/-3%

• In last 5 years 90% had never come across a public official who hinted/asked for a bribe for a service

• But 7.5% said they had “seldom” come across such an official, 2.5% said “occasionally” , 0.5% said “quite often” or “very often.”

• Asked how many politicians and public officials are involved in corruption, only 17% and 14% respectively said “almost none”* Data supplied by Professor Philip Gendall

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SSC Integrity and Conduct Survey 2010

• 15% of 8,200 respondent state servants reported observing illegal conduct in previous 12 months

• 4% observed “giving or accepting inappropriate payments, perks, or inappropriate gifts”

• 5% observed inappropriate alteration of documents

• 4% observed falsification or misrepresentation of records or reports

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Who is seen as corrupt in NZ?1 = not corrupt; 5 = extremely corrupt

Institution/Organisation Mean rating

Political parties 3.5

Parliament 3.2

Private sector 3.2

Media 3.1

Religious bodies 3.1

Public officials 3.0

Police 2.7

NGOs 2.6

Judiciary 2.5

Education system 2.4

Military 2.212

Government effective in fighting corruption?

NZ Government's Corruption Fighting

Effective54%Neither

34%

Ineffective12%

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Government effective in fighting corruption? Cross-national comparisons

Ineffective Neither Effective

Fiji 9% 3% 88%

Denmark 44% 0% 56%

New Zealand 12% 34% 54%

Australia 21% 43% 36%

UK 66% 0% 34%

Vanuatu 49% 19% 32%

Solomon Is 55% 20% 32%

Singapore 31% 40% 29%

USA 71% 0% 29%

PNG 65% 11% 24%

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Who do New Zealanders trust to fight corruption?

Most trusted organisation  

Government leaders 23%

Media 20%

Nobody 18%

NGOs 15%

Private sector 7%

International organisations 4%

Don’t know 14%

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Role of individuals in fighting corruption

New Zealanders’ views Disagree Agree

Individuals can make a difference

fighting corruption

13% 87%

Could become involved in fighting

corruption

27% 73%

Would support a friend/colleague

fighting corruption

4% 96%

Would report an incident of

corruption

7% 93%

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Conclusions

• First public survey of bribery incidence in NZ• Surprising level of payment of bribes• Strong public view that corruption increasing• Consistent with other survey evidence; and with

known increased risks from globalization• NZers think individuals can make a difference,

and are willing to get involved• Government needs to be pro-active

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What should be done?

• Hot lines; ensure effective whistle blower protection

• Focus on specific areas where officials have a valuable discretion: police; corrections; procurement; immigration; customs; regulation; taxation

• Survey civil servants on bribery; repeat public surveys

• Transparency of political party funding; apply OIA to parliament; MPs’ Code of Conduct; independent setting of MPs’ pay and allowances

• Active reporting, monitoring, auditing and enforcement

• Enlist the public e.g. civics education

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