Swiss rate well on bribe index
Swiss firms are unlikely to pay bribes to win business, according to a survey by anti-corruption organisation Transparency International.
Switzerland was ranked joint third along with the Netherlands in the Bribe Payers Index (BPI), which lists 22 of the world’s largest countries in terms of honesty.
The survey of 2,742 senior business executives from around the world found that only Belgium and Canada were considered less likely to make payoffs.
Firms in Russia were rated the worst offenders, just above China, Mexico and India.
The cleanest sectors in terms of bribery of public officials were information technology and fisheries and finance. Most bribes took place in property development, mining, oil and gas, and firms in public works contracts.
Switzerland was ranked top in 2006, but dropped this year after criteria for the BPI changed.
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