Quote from ORM:
Its not my friend
http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0781359.html
Now on 20th. Behind a lot of other countries. Only Belgium is behind in western world
OR
I actually agree with that ranking except for France, much more corrupt than the US from my personal busines experience. Since when are Italy Spain and Portugal not part of the western world? As an Italian I am deeply offended

Size, diversity, and a split Federalist system facilitates corruption so it is remarkable to me that the US is 20th. A better comaprison would be individual US sttaes with European countries.
I have been involved with starting companies in Europe (southern), Asia, and in the US and the only place that I have not had to pay someone 'a little something extra" from the utility guy to the clerk with whom I register the business and in one case even protection money (so the office would not be robbed or burnt out) was in the US.