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Corruption by the Numbers
Garen Yegparian
BY GAREN YEGPARIAN
We hear a lot about corruption, and see various forms of it in our daily
lives. Sadly, in some places, such as Armenia, it is present at a
disturbing, probably economically disruptive, scale.
For the last two decades, Transparency International and Goettingen
University have compiled a `Corruption Perception Index' which is a `poll of
polls' as they describe it. They amass others' studies of corruption in
countries throughout the world and produce an annual tabulation of countries
with a rating, on a scale of 0-10, where 10 means corruption free and 0
totally corrupt. They require that a minimum of three (formerly four)
surveys/studies include a country for that to be included in their index.
They have used at least twelve surveys/studies since 1999 (earlier years had
fewer). Polling done over the preceding three years is considered valid for
inclusion in any year's compilation. For these reasons, they caution that
year-to-year comparisons should not be made easily. But take a look at the
accompanying table, and you'll note the trends in our homeland and its
neighbors are pretty consistent.
Corruption by Numbers Data from Transparency International
Russia and Iran don't fare well, as you can see in the table which lists
each country's rank and score by year. But more embarrassing is that Georgia
and Turkey both seem `cleaner' than the Republic of Armenia (RoA). This is
particularly painful since Georgia started out roughly equal to RoA.
Azerbaijan turns out to be perceived as more corrupt than Armenia, no
surprise, given its de facto hereditary monarchic system of government. But
even relative to Azerbaijan, RoA is poised for embarrassment since the
former has been steadily improving while the latter, though improving
initially, has been getting worse since 2008.
This is not good. It makes people's lives miserable. It creates an uncertain
business climate. It gives our opponents ammunition when Diasporans
worldwide try to support Armenia through advocacy in their host country
capitals. And, while it can't all be pinned on Serzh Sarkissian, at this
point, given the timing of the downward trend in `cleanliness' and his
2008
election, much blame can be laid at his feet.
In these celebratory days of RoA's twentieth birthday, we must not be
blinded to the problems that must be solved for the country to truly
progress. Perhaps President Sarkissian should be reminded of that lofty
office's duty to the people during his visit to the United States this week.
It's our job not only to support Armenia, but to be the eyes that see and
ears that hear things that our landlocked-homeland-dwelling-compatriots are
less likely to perceive. It is our moral duty to do so. Let's not be
derelict in helping clean up corruption in Armenia. Raise your voices
against this blight. Let Sarkissian know how you feel.
http://asbarez.com/98168/corruption-by-the-numbers/
Garen Yegparian
BY GAREN YEGPARIAN
We hear a lot about corruption, and see various forms of it in our daily
lives. Sadly, in some places, such as Armenia, it is present at a
disturbing, probably economically disruptive, scale.
For the last two decades, Transparency International and Goettingen
University have compiled a `Corruption Perception Index' which is a `poll of
polls' as they describe it. They amass others' studies of corruption in
countries throughout the world and produce an annual tabulation of countries
with a rating, on a scale of 0-10, where 10 means corruption free and 0
totally corrupt. They require that a minimum of three (formerly four)
surveys/studies include a country for that to be included in their index.
They have used at least twelve surveys/studies since 1999 (earlier years had
fewer). Polling done over the preceding three years is considered valid for
inclusion in any year's compilation. For these reasons, they caution that
year-to-year comparisons should not be made easily. But take a look at the
accompanying table, and you'll note the trends in our homeland and its
neighbors are pretty consistent.
Corruption by Numbers Data from Transparency International
Russia and Iran don't fare well, as you can see in the table which lists
each country's rank and score by year. But more embarrassing is that Georgia
and Turkey both seem `cleaner' than the Republic of Armenia (RoA). This is
particularly painful since Georgia started out roughly equal to RoA.
Azerbaijan turns out to be perceived as more corrupt than Armenia, no
surprise, given its de facto hereditary monarchic system of government. But
even relative to Azerbaijan, RoA is poised for embarrassment since the
former has been steadily improving while the latter, though improving
initially, has been getting worse since 2008.
This is not good. It makes people's lives miserable. It creates an uncertain
business climate. It gives our opponents ammunition when Diasporans
worldwide try to support Armenia through advocacy in their host country
capitals. And, while it can't all be pinned on Serzh Sarkissian, at this
point, given the timing of the downward trend in `cleanliness' and his
2008
election, much blame can be laid at his feet.
In these celebratory days of RoA's twentieth birthday, we must not be
blinded to the problems that must be solved for the country to truly
progress. Perhaps President Sarkissian should be reminded of that lofty
office's duty to the people during his visit to the United States this week.
It's our job not only to support Armenia, but to be the eyes that see and
ears that hear things that our landlocked-homeland-dwelling-compatriots are
less likely to perceive. It is our moral duty to do so. Let's not be
derelict in helping clean up corruption in Armenia. Raise your voices
against this blight. Let Sarkissian know how you feel.
http://asbarez.com/98168/corruption-by-the-numbers/