AS/COA and Control Risks Launch New Index Assessing Latin America's Capacity to Combat Corruption

Americas Society/Council of the Americas (AS/COA) and Control Risks, the specialist risk consulting firm, are pleased to announce the launch of the Capacity to Combat Corruption (CCC) Index, a new tool assessing Latin American countries' ability to uncover, punish and deter corruption.

Rather than measuring perceived levels of corruption, the CCC Index evaluates and ranks countries based on how effectively they are able to combat corruption. Countries with a higher score are deemed more likely to see corrupt actors prosecuted and punished. The CCC Index looks at 14 key variables, including the independence of judicial institutions, the strength of investigative journalism, and the level of resources available for combating white-collar crime. The index relies on extensive data and on a proprietary survey conducted among leading anti-corruption experts from Control Risks, academia, civil society, media and the private sector.

The inaugural edition of the CCC Index covers Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Guatemala, Mexico, Peru and Venezuela, which collectively represent almost 90 percent of Latin America and the Caribbean’s GDP.

"An anti-corruption wave has been sweeping Latin America for the past five years, putting powerful figures in jail and shaping electoral outcomes. The CCC Index provides us a comparative tool to better understand this phenomenon and highlight why some countries have had greater success in facing the problem of systemic corruption," said Roberto Simon, Senior Director of Policy at AS/COA.

The country with the highest overall score in the 2019 CCC Index is Chile (6.66 out of 10), meaning it is deemed the most likely country in the study for corruption to be uncovered, punished and deterred. Chile was followed by Brazil (6.14), a virtual tie between Colombia (5.36) and Argentina (5.33), Peru (5.17), Mexico (4.65), Guatemala (4.55) and, in a distant last place, Venezuela (1.71).

According to Geert Aalbers, Senior Partner at Control Risks, the CCC Index offers businesses a comprehensive understanding of the nuanced compliance challenges in Latin America. "Companies are interested in how well-equipped countries are to combat corruption, and how effectively they are doing so," said Aalbers. The CCC Index provides a perspective on how countries in Latin America are faring on this front and is designed to be read in combination with other key indices on corruption.

"Over time, greater levels of enforcement in the region will lead companies to investigate wrongdoing and invest more heavily in compliance measures, which will ultimately reinforce the creation of a more transparent business environment," added Aalbers. 

Methodology

The overall score is formed by three sub-categories – legal capacity (I); democracy and political institutions (II); and civil society, media and the private sector (III) – dividing the 14 variables analyzed.

Legal Capacity
▪ Judicial independence and efficiency
▪ Anti-corruption agencies' independence and efficiency
▪ Access to public information and overall government transparency
▪ Independence and resources for the Chief Prosecutor's Office and investigators
▪ Level of expertise and resources available to combat white-collar crime
▪ Quality of leniency and plea bargain instruments
▪ Level of international cooperation on law enforcement
Democracy and Political Institutions
▪ Quality and enforceability of campaign finance legislation
▪ Lawmaking and ruling process
▪ Overall quality of democracy

Civil Society, Media and the Private Sector
▪ Civil society mobilization against corruption
▪ Education improvements
▪ Quality of the press and investigative journalism
▪ Digital communications and social media
The CCC Index will be updated annually, tracking countries' trajectories in the field of anti-corruption.

For the full results and methodology, download the <2019 CCC Index Report>.

###

To schedule an interview or receive further information, please contact:

Pía Fuentealba
Manager, Media Relations
Americas Society/Council of the Americas
+1 929 271 9491
pfuentealba@as-coa.org

José Flores
Media Manager, Latin America
Control Risks
+52 55 50001700
jose.flores@controlrisks.com

About AS/COA

Americas Society / Council of the Americas is the premier forum dedicated to education, debate, and dialogue in the Americas. Its mission is to foster an understanding of the contemporary political, social, and economic issues confronting Latin America, the Caribbean, and Canada. Learn more at as-coa.org.

About Control Risks

Control Risks is a global specialist risk consulting firm that helps clients create organizations that are secure, compliant and resilient in an age of ever-changing risk and connectivity. Our experts across 36 offices help clients investigate wrongdoing and resolve crises, and provide the insight and intelligence companies need to realize opportunities and grow. Learn more at controlrisks.com.