[marcosdumay]

That's because the US has a low amount of corruption on the positions that face the public.

It's also because most of those lists are ordered by a "perception index", that is the kind of bullshit that increases if your government does an awareness program and if corruption fighting gets on the news.

[mcdonje]

So, ironically, corruption reduction efforts can raise a country's rank on such lists.

[marcosdumay]

Exactly. Not only "can", but will on almost every case. Some times I wonder if it's on purpose.