Article published on 16/08/2025
An age-old problem of Latin countries in general since time immemorial is widespread CORRUPTION... On this subject, we want to provide a general impression gathered from our compatriots living abroad about the Italian system, then compare it with the Spanish situation. Afterwards, we will delve into official data regarding the "Perception of Corruption".
It is a common opinion among expats that our country is often afflicted by a serious lack of transparency at every level (starting from public and inevitably spilling into private), corruption often deliberately disguised as bureaucracy, which in many cases makes even the most basic public services difficult to access; that frequently destroys the concept of meritocracy to the "advantage" of entrenched nepotism; that worsens the tax burden to "cover" the continuous waste of public resources and that ultimately, as a natural consequence, reduces the competitiveness of the entire country-system.
We say immediately that we are far from saying Spain is immune to the phenomenon... Any Spaniard you talk to will complain about the level of corruption they perceive: the problem objectively affects them too, we are not talking about a Scandinavian country... But that the situation is better than the Italian one is not said only by official numbers (which we will provide below) but by a widespread greater efficiency and modernity of offices and public services in general; a better urban planning, road and railway system; a lower real tax burden and that common feeling that a public and administrative process is more transparent and less subject to that inextricable network of privileges, favoritism and unclear mechanisms, all Italian.
Our study, as mentioned, aims to also provide official data, thus as objective as possible. In this regard, we are helped by the well-known ranking published just a few months ago for 2015 by Transparency International, an authoritative non-profit NGO fighting for 23 years for greater transparency, denouncing worldwide more or less serious corruption situations.
Out of 167 countries considered, Spain fares well in 36th place worldwide with a substantially sufficient total score, while Italy, with a poor ranking, is the second most corrupt EU country after Bulgaria, 61st worldwide, even preceded by Greece and Romania, considered more "transparent"...
In particular, what pushes many Italians to seek a country more aligned with their aspirations is the problem of a tax system considered unfair. Il Sole 24 Ore not long ago spoke of a real TAX BURDEN around 60%: sources slightly differ on the numbers but agree in defining it the highest in the world! And moreover facing extremely deficient public services (health, education, transport, urban planning...): problems that worsen in certain areas of Italy, but from which no Italian citizen can truly be exempt.
Spain fares decidedly better with recently reduced corporate taxes (between 2015 and 2016) between 20% and 25% depending on taxable base, size, and legal form of the company. And without additional regional taxes (first among them our hated IRAP). Moreover, for some years now in the Iberian country, start-ups or newly created companies enjoy a reduced tax rate of 15% for the first two years, starting from the first tax period with a positive taxable base. An extremely attractive opportunity for small and large investors.
Another significant differential data is the social cost of workers borne by the company, with an average rate in Italy approaching 41%, unlike the average rate in Spain, which is around 34% (between 30% and 37%).
Another topic we want to bring attention to is the completely different policy regarding IMMIGRATION. The discussion somehow returns here to the root problem of corruption, given that Italy, under the all-Catholic pretext of humanitarian spirit (which in itself would be commendable if genuine), has often shown itself fertile ground for uncontrolled clandestine landings, or rather... too well controlled, to the advantage of a political class that derives a billion-dollar business, unworthy of a civilized country and colluding with the various criminalities of the involved countries, from both shores.
In this regard, exemplary are the wiretaps between Buzzi, a multi-convicted billionaire "humanitarian," and Odevaine, a leading figure of the Roman public administration, reported in numerous newspapers just a year ago.
A objectively different discourse regarding Spain, which has always stood out for the rigidity of its borders and its immigration policy. The situation of recent years is very clear: with any government (Zapatero, Aznar or Rajoy), the country has practiced expulsions without receiving any sanction from the EU.
The Spanish "hard line" is confirmed by the numbers: 3,632 landings in 2010, almost 5,500 in 2011, only 3,800 in 2012 and even fewer, 3,237, in 2013. The following year, 2014, when Italy receives 170 thousand, Spain only hosts 7,842. In 2015 finally, while France raises its "walls" at Ventimiglia, England announces the construction of over three kilometers of fence at the Calais Tunnel port, in Spain barely one thousand immigrants arrive while in Italy 60 thousand desperate land.
To conclude this certainly unflattering picture for Italy (but enriched by many objective and hardly refutable elements), it is important to underline that we ALL, truly ALL, love our country for its infinite natural beauties, its immense artistic heritage, its rich 360° culture, the great variety of regional customs and traditions, its excellent and varied gastronomy.
But what unfortunately, traveling, we have learned to "hate" is the uncivilized way our wonderful territory and its citizens (ourselves, after all...) are mistreated.
Perhaps the love for Spain is born precisely from the attempt to channel this great love, for a country that in many ways (the shared Mediterranean culture above all) resembles ours, but in many others is not a continuous source of disappointment but reciprocates this love with a quality of life and possibilities overall decidedly superior!
1.https://www.transparency.it/…/CPI2015_map-and-country-resul…
2.http://www.ilsole24ore.com/…/al-paese-serve-patto-taglia-ta…
3.http://www.ilgiornale.it/…/litalia-ha-record-mondiale-delle…
4.http://infoautonomos.eleconomista.es/…/impuesto-de-socieda…/
5,http://www.ilfattoquotidiano.it/…/mafia-capitale-b…/1245847/
6.http://www.secoloditalia.it/…/immigrati-litalia-colabrodo-…/
7.http://www.firenzepost.it/…/immigrazione-spagna-francia-e-…/ )