Other southerners, notably Spaniards and Portuguese, have both improved, though sleaze and corruption, especially at regional and city levels, is still common.

ECONOMIST: Is Europe corrupt? | The

Adopting anti -corruption measures and an improved governance structure can thereby ensure transparency in business operations.

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In 1999 Ford dipped a toe in the water with a small assembly plant near St Petersburg, and in the same year GM went for a seemingly risky joint venture with AvtoVAZ (at the time a byword for corruption and gangsterism) to produce an improved version of the Niva, a cheap SUV.

ECONOMIST: Theme and variations

Latterly its reputation has improved, although its decision to drop the Saudi Arabian aspect of a corruption case against BAE Systems saw it widely criticised, because it was seen to be buckling under pressure from the then government of Tony Blair.

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