The adage that “no news is good news” doesn’t apply to Transparency International’s 2021 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI). That corruption levels remain at a global standstill or have worsened highlights a disturbing trend for companies, governments, and citizens alike.

Jaclyn Jaeger is a freelance contributor to Compliance Week after working for the company for 15 years. She writes on a wide variety of topics, including ethics and compliance, risk management, legal,...