This study combines the 2019 Corruption Perceptions Index and the 2019 Heritage Index of Economic Freedom and finds a strong correlation between economic freedom and corruption.

Transparency International Fails On Solutions: If You Want To Defeat Corruption, Push For Economic Freedom

...The study, which shows that there is a strong and significant correlation between higher economic-freedom scores and lower corruption scores, was preceded by an analysis of the theories and studies of corruption which had been conducted until then. Since that first effort in 1997, I have conducted studies and correlated the data on a regular basis, and the basic conclusion and insights remain the same: Economic freedom is a major deterrent to corruption.

The 2019 Corruption Perceptions Index and the 2019 Heritage Index of Economic Freedom are no exception. As the chart shows, more economically free countries are also less corrupt. The opposite also holds: countries with the most corrupt leaders and institutions show dismal scores in respect for economic freedom.


Note, the higher the Corruption Perceptions Index score the lower the corruption.