We are in the Top 5....again

Singapore has yet again received high marks in another international study, this time on corruption (or lack of). Im sure this study pleases the Government very much, and will no doubt take extra pains to highlight this to it's emphatic citizens.
Transparency International recently released its Corruption Perception Index (CPI) and taking a quick look at the rankings would show that we scored a high mark of 9.4, just behind Iceland, Finland, New Zealand and Denmark.
By perception (pun intended), corruption and poverty are directly proportional, which kinda explains why which countries fall within the top and bottom 30. I had actually scrolled all the way down to look for America's ranking, only to be dissapointed when I found that she was 17th placed with 7.6 marks. Our dear neighbours up north scored a 5.1 at 39th place while our lovely southern neighbours was placed 137th with 2.2 marks.
Not to be distracted by numbers and rankings, I think there is one factor that TI forgot to include. I havent read the whole report yet but I think you can base corruption on one immutable factor. The gap between the rich and poor.
Im making broad assumptions here but Singapore does deserve it's high CPI. There is no gapping gulf between the rich and poor, there is a budgeoning middle class, and with regards to GDP per capita (we are 29th placed) there is a strong correlation between a high GDP per capita and lack of corruption.
On another note, America is 2nd placed when it comes to GDP per capita. But a closer look behind the numbers would reveal that the United States has the highest poverty rate of any industrialized nation, studies and reports point to the inexorable elimination of the middle class (which in my opinion is the backbone of any nation), and that the majority of the wealth is accumulated in the hands of the minority. Don't ask me for links and numbers yet because I tend not to bookmark the articles and reports I read.
But one thing's for sure, the CPI rankings can be a relatively accurate perception of the state of corruption around the world, but it should not be taken as the bible truth. Simply because the CPI is based mainly on the views of business people and analysts around the world.