People living in the poorest countries often suffer the most from corrupt officials. Poor countries are especially prone to corruption — in part because public salaries are so low. In turn, that corruption can also be said to cause poverty — by inhibiting economic and social progress. This is how some countries find themselves stuck in a “corruption/poverty trap.” Half of the ten most corrupt countries are in Africa. But there was less corruption in Botswana than in France — and less in Namibia than in Italy.