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Latin America Corruption Worsens
Corruption worsens in Brazil, Mexico, Panama and Dominican Republic.
BY LATINVEX STAFF
Latin America – a region known for its widespread corruption – managed to deteriorate further during the past year, according to the latest Corruption Perceptions Index from Germany-based watchdog Transparency International.
Brazil and Mexico – Latin America’s top two economies – worsened their scores, as did another six countries in the region, including Panama and the Dominican Republic.
Only six countries improved, while another five remained the same.
Argentina improved the most, followed by Peru. Other countries that improved include Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador and Venezuela.
Countries that kept their transparency score the same include Bolivia, Colombia, Cuba, Guatemala and Nicaragua.
Uruguay remains the most transparent country in Latin America, followed by Chile and Costa Rica, while Venezuela is the most corrupt, followed by Nicaragua and Guatemala. In the latter country, two former presidents -- Alvaro Colom and Otto Perez Molina -- are in jail on corruption charges.
Corruption: Best & Worst
Ranked by transparency rank
LA Rk
Gl Rk
Country
Score
Ch
1
23
Uruguay
70
-1
2
26
Chile
67
1
3
38
Costa Rica
59
1
4
62
Cuba
47
5
85
Argentina
39
3
6
96
Brazil
37
-3
6
96
Colombia
37
6
96
Panama
37
-1
6
96
Peru
37
2
10
112
Bolivia
33
10
112
El Salvador
33
-3
12
117
Ecuador
32
1
13
135
Dom. Rep.
29
-2
13
135
Honduras
29
-1
13
135
Mexico
29
-1
13
135
Paraguay
29
-1
17
143
Guatemala
28
18
151
Nicaragua
26
19
169
Venezuela
18
1
Average
37.7
-0.2
LA Rk=Latin America rank
Gl Rk=Global rank
Ch: Change in score from 2016 index
Sources: Corruption Perceptions Index 2017, Transparency International; Latinvex (change)
