The Economist Intelligence Unit conducted a survey on behalf of Control Risks to explore the attitudes of businesses around the world to corruption. The report, written by Control Risks, can be downloaded here.  

The Economist Intelligence Unit is not responsible for the accuracy of this information, nor can it accept any responsibility or liability for reliance by any person on this report or any of the information, opinions or conclusions set out in the report.

Key survey findings

• There are large disparities between different regions’ approach to integrity risk. Even within countries, there can be sharp differences, as seen with the US. As might be expected, US companies are the most sensitive to compliance issues, but there are a range of reactions to specific problems, such as demands for donations to the minister’s favourite charity when bidding for government contracts. The UK is catching up, but not as much as one might expect in the light of Bribery Act requirements.
• While most major enforcement actions concern the payment of large bribes to secure contracts, it is actually demands for bribes to secure the smooth running of business that are the greatest concern. However, operational bribes are often hard to deal with because they function as a form of extortion and therefore are rising up the corporate agenda.
• Many companies still fall short of best practice in their anti-bribery compliance programmes. For example, fewer than half have anti-corruption training programmes.
• A significant minority (23%) of respondents believe it is likely their companies will be required to investigate a suspected violation of anti-bribery laws in the next two years, with another 21% saying it is possible. US companies are the most anxious, with 34% believing it possible and 27% thinking it likely they will have to investigate. The Indians are the least concerned, with 89% believing it unlikely that their companies will need to conduct an investigation.
• A majority of companies (68%) are more likely than they were three years ago to “self-report” suspected violations to the authorities. However, if a suspected violation came to their attention, 30% say they would investigate first and self-report only if the violation is confirmed and 15% say they would report the violation only if it was likely to come to the attention of law enforcement.
• Dealing with international data protection laws is the main challenge in complex cross-border investigations, with 67% of respondents believing that the impact of data protection laws on their companies will increase in the next one to two years.