The Berlin based watchdog ‘Transparency International’ has released its latest report regarding national public sector corruption.

The new study uses metrics such as the independence and efficiency of the state judicial system as well as the effectiveness of oversight of public spending to compile the list. According to the latest results Ireland has fallen from 19th place last year to 25th place in 2012. The study measures the perception of corruption, given that most corrupt dealings are secret or never detected.

Of the 176 countries that were analyzed Greece ranked in 94th place, the worst of any EU country. Widescale corruption and tax evasion continue to compound the problems of this bankrupt country, already reeling from years of austerity and facing into perhaps decades more.

New Zealand, Denmark and Finland were ranked as the least corrupt countries. It is perhaps no coincidence that these three countries are also among the top countries to be born in according to a recent study by the Economist Intelligence Unit. Somalia, North Korea and Afghanistan were listed as the most corrupt countries.

The US was ranked in 19th place with Germany in 13th, Britain and Japan in 17th place, and France in 22nd. With China in 80th place and Russia in 133rd place the report clearly cites the need for sustained political action in order for a country to improve its perception of corruptness.

Italy in 72nd place, Bulgaria in 75th, and Romania in 66th place demonstrates the problems facing those EU countries and especially so in the light of the current plans to install a new European-wide banking supervisor.