Tag Archives | United States

Iraq’s corruption legacy

By on 3 April 2013 in Cost of Corruption, Defence and Security, Europe and Central Asia, Oil and gas, Politics and government, Poverty and development

$800 million. That’s the staggering amount of money said to be unlawfully transferred out of Iraq every week. Last month marked the ten year anniversary of the start of the occupation of Iraq by coalition forces. The aftermath of war and occupation has been ravaging well after the withdrawal of foreign troops. The US Special [...]

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Is there enough transparency at US universities?

By on 12 March 2013 in Americas, Education, Young people

As university tuition costs increase and the job market remains weak, with many college graduates unemployed or underemployed, the choice of university for young US adults becomes increasingly a financial one. And to make a good financial choice, one needs good information. Consider these facts: even after controlling for inflation, between 1980 and 2010 the [...]

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‘Putting in a good word’: the most acceptable form of corruption?

By on 4 February 2013 in Private sector

Have you ever ‘put in a good word’ at your workplace for a family member or friend? Or asked such a favour from your nearest and dearest? And how about ‘mates rates’? Ever been able to get something quicker or cheaper because of a powerful associate? What harm does nepotism and cronyism do? The parents [...]

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Year of the whistleblower?

By on 15 January 2013 in Whistleblowing

Whistleblowers and the people and organisations that support them have been making waves  and making news for decades. Finally, they’re making laws. Over the past two years, many countries throughout the world have passed new or strengthened existing laws to protect whistleblowers from retaliation, and to help ensure that their efforts to disclosure corruption, fraud and other [...]

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The Americas: Economies grow, democracies shrink. What does corruption have to do with it?

By on 5 December 2012 in Access to information, Americas, Anti-corruption movement, Defence and Security, Politics and government, Poverty and development

Lea el texto en Español aquí For the Americas, 2012 was largely a positive year in many ways. As important economic and social indicators show an improvement, there is a sense of optimism throughout the region, especially in Latin America. While the United States’ presidential campaign, which polarised ideas and citizens earlier this year, focused [...]

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How not to fall foul of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act

By on 16 November 2012 in Americas, Politics and government

This week the Department of Justice and the Securities and Exchange Commission published their long-awaited guidance intended to provide useful information to companies to comply with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA). The 120 page document has for the most part been welcomed by civil society organisations and defense counsels alike because of its comprehensiveness [...]

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No Impunity: Armenian politicians duck justice

By on 26 October 2012 in Europe and Central Asia, Politics and government

It is nothing new for Armenians to see their politicians accused of corruption. Usually the accusations have little effect and in a few instances people may change jobs but they rarely get punished. In July 2012, however, a court in the United States returned a guilty verdict against Vardan Ayvazyan, a former environment minister and [...]

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How can business battle corruption?

By on 12 October 2012 in Private sector

President Barack Obama, speaking to the United Nations General Assembly about the true nature of democracy, mentioned corruption and bribery several times. I was particularly struck by this line: True democracy demands that citizens cannot be thrown in jail because of what they believe, and that businesses can be opened without paying a bribe. Unfortunately, [...]

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Will Britain tackle tax evasion?

By on 10 October 2012 in Accountability, Financial Markets, Private sector

317 Pressure on what are alternatively called ‘offshore havens’, ‘tax havens305’ or ‘secrecy jurisdictions’ is reaching an unprecedented level. There are more than fifty such havens world wide, and governments are finally coming around to the idea voiced by activists that tougher regulation is needed. The economic crisis has lent urgency to the cause. Britain’s [...]

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Corruption without borders

By on 4 September 2012 in Africa and Middle East, Americas, Asia Pacific, Europe and Central Asia, Private sector

Stories of bribery and its impact around the world, from Greece to Mexico. 39 countries are signed up to the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention, meaning that they have agreed to investigate and prosecute businesses that use corrupt practices when conducting business abroad. We will publish a new report on Thursday showing a rise in prosecutions by [...]

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