Mexico: Improvement of corruption levels is stagnant, Transparencia Mexicana

• The National Corruption and Good Governance Index shifted from 10.6 in 2001 to 8.5 in 2003 and increased to 10.1 in 2005.
• This year’s Index registered an increased incidence of corruption in the 35 public services included in the study. Of the 35 services ranked, 11 improved their ranking from 2003.
• Half of Mexico’s federal states reduced the incidence of corruption in their provision of services compared to 2003.
• Guerrero, Hidalgo, Tabasco, Estado de México and Distrito Federal are the states with the greatest incidence of corruption in their public services. Querétaro, Chiapas, Baja California Sur and Guanajuato registered the lowest incidence of corruption in the country.

The non-governmental organisation Transparencia Mexicana today published the results of its National Corruption and Good Governance Index 2005 (INCBG). The Index is an instrument that registers bribes or “bites” (in Spanish), as colloquially known in Mexico, paid by Mexican households in relation to 35 public services provided at municipal, state and national level, and by private businesses.

The INCBG 2005 shows an increased score from 8.5 in 2003 to 10.1 points in 2005. That brings the 2005 close to the 2001 level, when it reached 10.6 points.

The INCBG registers the number of times a bribe or “bite” was paid for each 100 times that a procedure was followed or that a public service was obtained. An increase in the Index reflects a higher incidence of corruption in public services or procedures. A lower Index indicates a decreased frequency in the amount of bribes paid for a particular procedure or service.

Federico Reyes Heroles, President of Transparencia Mexicana’s Board of Directors pointed to an increase in corruption levels between 2003 and 2005. “The National Corruption and Good Governance Index”, emphasised Reyes, “is an instrument that is sensitive to the public policy initiatives from governments. The INCBG registers whether an anti-corruption strategy has been consistent over time or if a government or government agency has lowered the guard, to put it bluntly.”

Compared to 2003, the INCBG 2005 registered 16 states with a decreased incidence of corruption, but this was not enough to maintain the pace of improvement in comparison to 2001. The INCBG 2005 shows that Guerrero, Hidalgo, Tabasco, Estado de México and Distrito Federal were the states with the greatest incidence of corruption in public services, while Querétaro, Chiapas, Baja CaliforniaSur, Sonora and Guanajuato were the states with the lowest incidence of corruption in the country.

The INCBG 2005 confirms a tendency observed in the 2001 and 2003 indices in terms of identifying corruption in public services as a regressive tax that affects the income of Mexican homes. Among homes with an income lower than the national minimum, the cost of so-called petty corruption amounted to 24% of their earnings.

The results published today also warn of the growing tendency of Mexican homes, to pay for bribes. The tendency to participate in acts of corruption is higher among homes headed by young persons and also by persons with a high level of education.

Transparencia Mexicana, A.C. is a non-governmental organisation that fights corruption in Mexico from an integral perspective, by influencing public policy and private attitudes, beyond sloganeering in order to generate concrete changes in the institutional framework and in Mexico’s culture of integrity. Founded in 1999, the organisation is the Mexican national chapter of Transparency International, the global coalition leading the fight against corruption. Members of the Advisory Board and the President contribute to the organisation’s work on a volunteer basis.

For more information on the INCBG, please see (in Spanish): http://www.transparenciamexicana.org.mx/ENCBG/

Media Contact:
Michelle del Campo, Transparencia Mexicana, 52.55.5659.4714 extension 16
Correo electrónico: mdelcampo@tm.org.mx