BERLIN — The U.S. worsened in a global ranking of corruption as concerns over financial regulatory oversight and political campaign funding weigh on public confidence, corruption watchdog group Transparency International said Tuesday.
The U.S. ranked 22nd on the list, down from 19th last year, with a score of 7.1 out of 10, compared with 7.5 in 2009, the Berlin-based group’s Corruption Perceptions Index showed. That is the worst ranking for the U.S. since the index began in 1995.
Denmark, New Zealand and Singapore maintained top positions on the list with 9.3, showing low levels of corruption. Afghanistan, Myanmar and Somalia came last with scores as low as 1.1.
The aftermath of the financial crisis and the effects of the decline on American homeowners have intensified skepticism of public integrity and hurt the country’s ranking, said Nancy Boswell, president of Transparency International- USA. She cited foreclosure procedures, in which financial institutions pushed through hundreds of repossessions a week without verifying documents.
Transparency International defines corruption as “the abuse of entrusted power for private gain.” Boswell identified many issues that have dented corruption perceptions in the U.S. and also pointed to increased campaign spending after a January decision by the Supreme Court struck down limits on corporate and labor-union political expenditures.
