After rising last year, Latvia this year has fallen two spots to 59th and is tied with Ghana in the latest Corruption Perception Index

After rising last year, Latvia this year has fallen two spots to 59th and is tied with Ghana in the latest Corruption Perception Index prepared by the clean government watchdog organization Transparency International. The index, based on polls of business people, academics and country analysts, measures how experts view the level of corruption in 91 nations. "There is no end in sight to the misuse of power by those in public office -- and corruption levels are perceived to be as high as ever in both the developed and developing worlds," said Peter Eigen, chairman of Transparency International. Latvia last year ranked 57th, having risen from 58th in 1999, and still is perceived as the most corrupt of the three Baltic countries. Estonia scored 28th, just behind Taiwan and just ahead of Italy, but also dropped two spots from last year's score. Lithuania, which had jumped to 43rd last year, continued its upward trend, this year measuring 38th on the index in a tie with South Africa. The least corrupt countries, according to the index, are Finland, Denmark and New Zealand. At the bottom of the list is Bangladesh. Further information about the index is available on the Transparency International Web site (http://www.transparency.org/).