China comes top of bribery index

Chinese companies are perceived to be the most willing to pay bribes, according to a Bribe Payer Perception Index produced by Transparency International.

The index, which ranks 19 leading exporting countries in terms of the degree to which their corporations are perceived to be paying bribes abroad, shows Swedish companies are thought to be most incorruptible, followed by those from Australia, Canada, Austria, Switzerland, Netherlands and then the UK. Italian companies came 16th.