Corruption is an intolerable impediment to the efficiency of the global economy and to sustainable global development. It distorts competition, deters investment and increases the cost of goods and services. Estimates show that the cost of corruption equals more than 5% of global GDP (approximately USD 3 trillion) and that corruption increases the cost of doing business globally by up to 10% on average. In absolute numbers, the amount of total bribes paid is conservatively estimated to be US$ 1 trillion. Such illicit behaviour is an obvious cause of distortion of competitive markets as well as the hampering of economic growth and efforts to eradicate poverty. In the fight against these illicit practices, the private sector has a key role to play, both by supporting governments to take action and by taking appropriate measures to address these challenges. G20 leaders explicitly recognized the need to strengthen their partnership with business in the
Seoul Anti-Corruption Action Plan in 2010.
This Resource Guide was developed by the
BIAC Task Force on Anti-Bribery and Corruption. It seeks to make available to the user an inventory of relevant instruments and initiatives in the field of anti- corruption which define legally binding obligations on states and companies, reflect a commitment against bribery and/or offer guidance and assistance to companies’ in their fight against bribery and corruption. Neither BIAC nor the Task Force on Anti-Bribery and Corruption take any responsibility for the accuracy of the information provided. The list of instruments and initiatives mentioned in this Resource Guide is not exhaustive. Users of the Resource Guide are kindly invited to highlight to BIAC any other initiatives that should be included in the Guide. We would in particular welcome suggestions regarding tools that provide practical help to companies and that would make a useful addition to the instruments already mentioned in Section III of this Resource Guide.
> Section I: Multilateral
regional legal instruments and activities by international organisations
> Section II: Guidelines and
Recommendations Addressed to States
> Section III: Guidelines,
Recommendations and Practical Help for Companies
About the BIAC Task Force on Anti-Bribery and Corruption
The BIAC Task Force consists of business experts nominated by BIAC
member associations. Since its inception in 1997, the Task Force has
been advising and supporting the OECD in matters related to the
fight against bribery in an international business context. In
particular, BIAC and its members supported
the development of the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention and assisted in
ensuring its implementation including through
participation in consultations in the context of OECD country
reviews. The BIAC
Task Force on Anti-Bribery and Corruption has also been engaged
in alerting OECD governments to the on-going problem of bribe
solicitation. The main focus of the BIAC Anti-Bribery
Task Force is to contribute business views to the ongoing review of
OECD anti-bribery instruments and to design of the future OECD
monitoring of the implementation of its Anti-Bribery Convention.
Copyright 2013, Business and Industry
Advisory Committee to the OECD (BIAC)
