Italy’s more than half corrupt?

Ok. That sounds pretty provocative. But how should one interpret the results of the latest Corruption Perceptions Index published by Transparency International? Italy, where I live, is at the 42nd place with a score of 4.8 on a scale of 10. It is humbling to see the world’s sixth biggest economy achieve its position with the hindrance of public sector more corrupt than that of, to take a few examples, Botswana, Chile, or Uruguay. Imagine what Italy could do if it had a system working smoothly and cleanly!