Insights Briefs

This report shares initial reflections based on the analysis of data from 50 anti-corruption agencies collected by IACA through a survey administered in the summer of 2025. The analysis shows a number of positive correlations underlining the importance of operational independence, oversight, financial resources and prompt investigations among others.

This research methodology underpins IACA’s research on measuring the effectiveness of anti-corruption agencies. The methodology has been developed with contributions from over 100 experts worldwide.

This research paper provides a critical analysis of corruption measurement pracitces until now, identifies challenges and gaps, and suggests a way forward that is respectful of the complexity of corruption.

This Synthesis Brief brings together the main findings of Phase I of the Global Programme on Measuring Corruption, based on research conducted in the period May 2022-September 2023. This includes a mapping of existing corruption indicators, research into the use of corruption measurement, and innovation in methodologies for measuring four aspects of corruption and corruption control.

State capture is a systematic type of corruption with the potential to transform the state or parts of it by shaping the rules of the game to benefit vested interests. However, existing measures of corruption are inadequate to discern the prevalence of state capture from that of petty forms of corruption, suggesting that a change of course is needed if the aim is to produce appropriate policy responses to the phenomenon.

This brief presents the key insights from our country research visit to South Africa which took place in April 2023. The research visit involved consultations with a purposively selected sample of in-country stakeholders from government, civil society, the private sector, and academia. The brief explores their interests, needs, and uses for corruption measures, as well as current measurement approaches.