This cross-country report on prevention of public sector corruption analyses the preventive measures that have proven to be effective and successful in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. The review focuses on twenty-one countries in Eastern Europe and Central Asia and includes examples from OECD countries. The report is based on questionnaires that were completed by governments, NGOs and international partners in participating countries.

For almost a century, the Dominican Republic has faced considerable governance and corruption challenges. High levels of corruption were present long time ago, and still prevail today, even if their characteristics and manifestations have changed. Rule of law has been weak for a long time, and generally government effectiveness has not been high. By contrast, the country has performed better in terms of progress on fundamental political and civil liberties, and thus relatively speaking it rates satisfactorily in terms of voice and accountability.

This paper addresses collective action with respect to sporting events, examining an initiative pertaining to the 2014 FIFA World Cup and 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil. It also discusses future prospects for collective action.

This issue of Development Outreach is part of a communications campaign to raise awareness of these issues in the world community. It is being released to coincide with the International Monetary Fund-World Bank Annual Meetings in Singapore in September 2006, which will include good governance and anti-corruption as major themes.

Firms operating in global markets often face systemic corruption issues, such as frequent demands for operational facilitation payments (“grease payments”), sometimes paired with extortion and shakedowns. Many anti-bribery regimes prohibit such payments and the OECD has decried the “corrosive effect of small facilitation payments, particularly on sustainable development and the rule of law.” However, any firm that sets an internal policy against such payments risks being snubbed by government officials in certain markets where facilitation payments are expected.

Collective Action on business integrity involves different stakeholder groups including civil society, government and business coming together to effect change, to create a business environment where corruption is no longer accepted and integrity prevails among all actors.

This guide is for CSOs, such as Transparency International chapters, that are considering embarking on collective action initiatives for business integrity in partnership with public and business sector organisations in their local, national and global contexts.

That corruption is a destructive and complex practice is openly acknowledged in Nigeria, yet it remains ubiquitous in the functioning of society and economic life. The consequences of corruption for the country and its people are, moreover, indisputable. Acts of diversion of federal and state revenue, business and investment capital, and foreign aid, as well as the personal incomes of Nigerian citizens, contribute to a hollowing out of the country’s public institutions and the degradation of basic services.

Many international firms and local companies are operating in markets that are exposed to corruption. Corruption increases the cost of doing business and has harmful consequences on the society. Multinational corporations publish compliance and anti-corruption declaration on their home pages, where they claim they resist demands for bribes. Firms can go beyond legal compliance and corporations can take a more active role in the prevention of corruption.

The 10 Anti-Corruption Principles provide guidance for state-owned enterprises (SOEs) of all types and sizes on anti-corruption best practice.

Companies of all sizes increasingly recognize corruption as a risk reducing competitive advantage by increasing costs and damaging to sustainable growth. For Transparency International, anti-corruption and corporate transparency policies are essential to tackle the roots of corruption in corporations.