4 ms·

So whose opinion are we supposed to consult? The local governments whose corruption we are trying to measure? Asking the local people seems like the best way to

• refurb 6y ago
  You're going to get extremely biased answers based on how any local group defines corruption. People from Western countries are highly sensitive to corruption, even soft corruption (e.g. some politician introduces his kid to a constituent who is a business person in order to get an internship). Ask people in highly corrupt countries if that's corruption and you'll get a very different answer (my sister-in-law, who is from a developing nation, would call that leveraging your network). Add on top that it's perception. In western countries how many people have direct experience with political corruption? Their views are going to be heavily influenced by media coverage. And then add on top anti-corruption measures. If your gov't prosecutes corruption aggressively, it will seem like there is more of it, versus a country that just ignores it. If it's not in your face, you'd probably say your country is not that corrupt. When in fact the country that more aggressively fights corruption is probably less corrupt than one that doesn't.
  • etrabroline 6y ago
    When you suggest an alternative I will weigh it against asking the locals.