1. Indonesia
Indonesia -- with a score of 8.32 -- is Asia's most corrupt economy.
Corruption is said to be ingrained at all levels in Indonesia. Companies cite demands for irregular fees to obtain required permits or licenses as well as the awarding of government contracts and concessions based on personal relationships, according to the study.
The most corrupt are the police, the legislature, the judicial institutions, and political parties. However, foreign investment is rising in Indonesia but corruption, red tape and an uncertain legal environment pose as major challenges for conducting business in the country.
Many companies are skeptical about concessions offered on government contracts, permits or licences. About 50 per cent of companies report of local level corruption. Companies report that they pay bribes of nearly 40 per cent of their taxes.
2. Thailand
Thailand has a score of 7.63 and is Asia's 2nd most corrupt economy.
In Thailand, corruption has been in existence for a long time. Corruption has been rampant in government service, among political leaders and bureaucrats for years.
Corruption takes various forms from a small gift as a goodwill gesture to bribery to swing big deals.
According to the World Economic Forum Global Competitiveness Report 2008-2009, companies consider corruption to be the fourth most major barrier to doing business in Thailand after government and policy instability, and inefficient government bureaucracy.
The National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA) reported that 95 mega-projects cost the state THB 400 billion solely due to corruption due to corruption since 2001. Bribery is rampant in the land department, tax and customs, transport and the Police departments.
Cambodia, with a score of 7.25, is Asia's third most-corrupt economy. According to estimates, 10 per cent of Cambodia's annual GDP is lost to corruption, highlighting largescale corruption.
It is has been 16 years since the United Nations organised elections in Cambodia to start a new democratic government after the terrible reign of the Khmer Rouge. But people are still suffering as the whole system is corrupt.
Corruption hampers economic opportunity and competitiveness, and demands for petty bribes are common. Pervasive corruption makes Cambodia highly vulnerable to penetration by drug traffickers and foreign crime syndicates, a study by the Heritage Foundation states.
!!India, Asia's 4th most corrupt nation!!
Corruption has gripped countries across the world. India is no execption. Many bribery and corruption scandals have tarnished India's image over the years. Across Asia, several countries still see rampant corruption at all levels exposing the nexus between political parties and corporate houses.
India, with a score* of 7.21 on the corruption index, is the fourth most corrupt nation in Asia, according to a survey by the Political and Economic Risk Consultancy (PERC).
Companies have cited excessive regulation and high levels of corruption as a major constraint to doing business in India. Corruption takes the form of bribery, kickbacks from deals and tax evasion in India. It continues to be a major concern, especially in government procurement of telecommunications, power, and defence deals, the study states.
Vietnam has a score of 7.11 on the corruption index and is Asia's 5th most corrupt country. Germany-based independent agency Transparency International also ranks Vietnam among the most corrupt countries.
It is said even government jobs and university degrees are available for 'sale'. About 20,000 state employees have been jailed or hauled up for corruption since the 1980�s.
Lack of transparency in the decision-making process, administrative rules, regulations and procedures that frequently change without notice or reason, insufficient coordination between offices, close formal and informal ties with politicians and patronage systems have hit the economy.
These problems boost corruption. According to the World Economic Forum Global Competitiveness Report 2008-2009, companies operating in Vietnam cite corruption as one of the biggest problems while conducting business in the country.
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