Several surveys were released in recent weeks assessing aspects of governance, security, and quality of life worldwide, including Transparency International’s Corruptions Perception index, the Clean Air Asia Report, and the World Justice Project’s Rule of Law index. We have summarized some of the highlights from Southeast Asia below.
172
Myanmar’s ranking in Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index 2012, released December 5. Myanmar’s ranking of 172nd out of 176 countries highlights the need for continued political reform. Other Southeast Asian countries that ranked below 100 include the Philippines (105), Timor-Leste (113), Indonesia (118), Vietnam (123), Cambodia (157), and Laos (160).
This graph compares GDP per capita with the countries’ Corruption Perception Index raw score, demonstrating how corruption correlates with development. Source Data: Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index and CIA’s World Factbook.
1.27 billion tons
Asia’s total carbon emissions from vehicles in 2010 according to a Clean Air Asia report released December 5. The report attributes the worsening air quality of Asian cities to accelerating passenger and freight vehicle sales, as well as increasing power generation. The number of people living in cities in developing Asian countries is expected to increase by 1.1 billion over the next 20 years.
Data Source: Clean Air Asia: Accessing Asia 2012.
1
Singapore’s ranking in the Mercer City Infrastructure Ranking 2012. The survey released December 4 takes into account electricity supply, water availability, telephone and mail services, public transportation, traffic congestion, and the range of international flights from local airports. Mercer also released its Quality of Living Ranking 2012, in which Singapore also ranks high (8), while other Southeast Asian cities lag behind: Kuala Lumpur (76), Bandar Seri Begawan (97), Johor Bahru (101), Bangkok (121), Manila (128), Jakarta (140), Hanoi (147), Ho Chi Minh City (149), Vientiane (169), Phnom Penh (186), and Yangon (196).
29
Indonesia’s ranking out of 97 countries in limiting government power according to the World Justice Project’s Rule of Law Index, released November 28. Indonesia tops the list of 23 lower-middle-income countries in establishing limits on government power and ranks near the top of Asia Pacific countries. The report ranks Indonesia near the bottom of the list, however, in the categories of regulatory enforcement and absence of corruption.
Data Source: World Justice Project’s Rule of Law Index.
