Transparency International Publishes Bribe Payers Index For 2011

On 2 November 2011, Transparency International, the anti-corruption non-governmental organisation ("TI"), launched its fifth Bribe Payers Index (the "Index"), which ranks 28 of the world's largest economies according to the expected likelihood of their companies to bribe when doing business abroad.  To compile the Index, TI surveyed more than 3,000 executives of companies working across all world regions, involved in business which makes up approximately 80% of global goods and services exports and investments.

The Index builds on previous versions and for the first time considers private-to-private sector bribery, as well as analysing the likelihood of low level and high level public sector corruption in given countries and business sectors.  It will form a useful tool for corporates seeking to perform anti-corruption risk assessments as part of developing "adequate procedures" in the context of the UK Bribery Act 2010 (the "Act").