ABSTRACT
In this chapter, the author considers the measurement issue of corruption rankings on several levels. One concern will be the quality of the indices themselves—strengths as well as shortcomings. Another emphasis will be their impact upon the policy and analytical debates, with an emphasis upon definitions as well as upon analysis and reform. The author also discusses "second-generation" measures, and ideas for further improvements. He surveys the prospects for, and the needed connections between, better comparative research and a richer policy debate. The author emphasizes the continuing need for a richly comparative and historical view of corruption built upon diverse kinds of evidence and theory. First-generation corruption measures have helped move the debate forward, and have framed new hypotheses for further work. None has been proposed as the final word on measuring corruption; and, to discuss their weaknesses is ultimately to return to the inherent difficulties of measuring corruption.
