Transparency International, the global coalition against corruption, released its annual report on corruption on December 3rd, 2014, Corruption Perceptions Index 2014 (CPI 2014). Thailand ranked 85 out of 175 countries. It tied for 85th place with Burkina Faso, India, Jamaica, Peru, Phillippines, Sri Lanka, Trinidad and Tobago and Zambia.
Internationally, this can at first be seen as an improvement as it moved up 17 places from 2013, where it placed 102nd. However, Thailand's actual score was 38 this year and is only slightly improved over 2013, a score of 35, and it's 2012 score of 37. Taking a different perspective look, two-thirds of the 175 countries scored below 50.
"The 2014 Corruption Perceptions Index shows that economic growth is undermined and efforts to stop corruption fade when leaders and high level officials abuse power to appropriate public funds for personal gain," said Jos? Ugaz, the chair of Transparency International. Together with India, 38, and China, 36, the poor scores of other emerging markets in the region ? such as Malaysia,52, Philippines and Thailand, both 38, and Indonesia, 34, ? indicate a general weak or ineffective leadership to counter corruption, posing threats for both sustainability of their economies and somewhat fragile democracies. The scores are "a resounding message to leaders that, despite many public declarations and commitments, not enough is being done to fight corruption", Transparency International wrote in the summary. "The persistent low scores ask a critical question to the leadership of Asian countries, which have full control of the conduct of its public services." For China and India, two countries where new leadership are pursuing anti-corruption drives, "the index is a harsh reality check".
