Lack of enforcement in anti-corruption laws hits competitiveness and curbs foreign capital
For the OECD, it is necessary for nations to go from words to deeds and be more forceful. Photo: Source: Istock
TL;DR
- The 2026 OECD Corruption and Integrity Outlook reveals a global gap in the execution of anti-corruption laws, despite many countries strengthening their legal frameworks.
- This implementation gap negatively impacts global legal certainty, competitiveness, and the attraction of long-term foreign investment.
- Data shows an average implementation gap of 19 percentage points in OECD member countries and 26 points in partner countries.
- Lack of rigorous monitoring and metrics means many national anti-corruption strategies remain ineffective, affecting public spending and citizen trust.
- Integrity within justice systems is crucial, yet compliance with conflict of interest regulations for judges and prosecutors is often deficient.
- The report suggests strengthening declaration obligations and focusing surveillance on high-risk positions to improve judicial integrity.
- Combating corruption is now a shared responsibility, with governments setting strategic goals for the private sector, especially in public companies and public-private partnerships.
- Technology, including AI and data analytics, is presented as a vital tool to enhance implementation, detect irregularities, and enable preventive actions.
- Rigorous application of integrity frameworks fosters ethical business practices and is essential for economic efficiency and value creation.