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Research

To end corruption we must first understand it. That’s why we look at what causes corruption and what works against it.

At TI, we have pioneered tools and methodologies to measure corruption as a vital first step to exposing and ultimately reducing it.

Our research team conducts rigorous and independent assessments of corruption around the world. At the global level, we produce comparative data measuring the prevalence of corruption, citizens’ experiences and attitudes towards it. We also explore how corruption spreads across borders and in different sectors of the economy. At the national, local and even sector level we investigate the specific manifestation of corruption, its causes, its consequences and what works to reduce it.

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Corruption Perceptions Index explained

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Our two flagship research tools measure corruption around the world

The annual Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) ranks countries and territories by their perceived levels of public sector corruption, according to experts and business people. Launched in 1995, and with comparable data back to 2012, the CPI has been widely credited with putting the issue of corruption on the international policy agenda.

The Global Corruption Barometer (GCB) supplements the CPI by surveying ordinary citizens around the world. Since its introduction in 2003, the world’s largest public survey on corruption has collected valuable data about the experiences and perceptions of tens of thousands of people.

You can find out more about each of these tools and their methodologies as well as access the data here:

We inform anti-corruption action and policies through evidence and hold governments and business to account

We collect evidence to support our advocacy goals, with an emphasis on political integrity and illicit money schemes, our global priorities. We monitor progress made by governments and organisations in meeting anti-corruption commitments. We analyse corruption challenges and governance trends at country and sector level, and collect evidence on what works in curbing graft wherever it takes place. Our research shapes and informs all our programmes and strategies.

Follow the links below to assess the background methodologies and research findings related to our suite of research tools.

Country assessments

We produce research on corruption at the country level. This ranges from assessments of national integrity frameworks to qualitative analysis of corruption trends in different states.

Business sector assessments

We develop tools and methodologies to measure transparency and integrity in the business sector.
These include:

Multi-country research projects

We support our network of national chapters around the world conduct assessments based on common methodologies. These include:

The Anti-Corruption Knowledge Hub

Our Anti-Corruption Knowledge Hub is an online space where you can find many of the studies, tools and knowledge which lie behind what we do at Transparency International. It is the home of the Anti-Corruption Helpdesk, TI's Expert Network, a series of topic guides and country-specific research.

Anti-Corruption Knowledge Hub

We curate an extensive collection of anti-corruption materials, which encompasses over 500 background papers, literature reviews and case studies. Topics cover a wide range of issues, from the effectiveness of anti-corruption agencies, to tackling corruption in post-conflict situations, to recent trends in anti-bribery laws.

Go to the Knowledge Hub