Transparency International’s 2015 Progress Report is an independent assessment of the enforcement of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s (OECD’s) Anti-Bribery Convention. The Convention is a key instrument for curbing global corruption because the 41 signatory countries are responsible for approximately two-thirds of world exports and almost 90 per cent of total foreign direct investment outflows. This is the 11th annual report. It has been prepared by Transparency International’s International Secretariat working with our national chapters and experts in the 41 OECD Convention countries.

This Report shows that there is Active Enforcement in four countries, Moderate Enforcement in six countries, Limited Enforcement in nine countries, and Little or No Enforcement in 20 countries. (Two countries were not classified.) This represents a modest improvement compared with the 2014 Report, with Norway moving to Moderate Enforcement from Limited Enforcement; Greece, Netherlands and South Korea moving to Limited Enforcement from Little or No Enforcement. Argentina has fallen to Little or No Enforcement from Limited Enforcement. (The four enforcement categories are explained in the Methodology section below.) The Convention’s fundamental goal of creating a corruption-free level playing field for global trade is still far from being achieved because of the uneven level of enforcement.

It is essential to recognise that cross-border bribery has enormous negative consequences for the populations of affected countries. Developed countries have both a self-interest and an obligation to devote the necessary resources to tackling the problem. Top priority should be directed to cases of grand corruption involving politicians and senior politicians. Not only is the largest damage done by grand corruption involving major contracts and permits. Failure to prevent grand corruption has the most corrosive political and societal consequences.