Transparency International (TI) is a nongovernmental organization (NGO) based in Berlin that cooperates with business, government, and civil society to combat corruption around the world. TI works at the national and international levels to lessen both the supply and demand of corruption, which it defines as the abuse of entrusted power for private gain. Launched in 1993, TI began because most world business and government officials were ignoring corruption. Yet some people in both developed and developing nations were concerned about the large-scale bribery by businesses as they “bought” officials and politicians in the developing world; such corruption hurt economic development and undermined human rights.

TI raises awareness about the damaging effects of corruption, advocates policy reform, works toward the implementation of multilateral conventions, and subsequently ...