Although four out of five companies have taken measures toaddress bribery and corruption risks, they're not making muchprogress in eliminating these dangers to their business. That's thekey takeaway from the “13thGlobal Fraud Survey” that EY released last week. The poll wasconducted from November 2013 to February 2014; it entailedinterviews by a global research firm with 2,719 seniordecision-makers in large companies across 59 countries andterritories. Respondents were primarily CFOs, chief complianceofficers (CCOs), general counsel, and heads of internal audit.

Among these respondents, 82 percent said their company has ananti-bribery and corruption (ABAC) policy and code of conduct. Evenmore (83 percent) said senior management has “stronglycommunicated” its commitment to ABAC policies. Almostthree-quarters (73 percent) said there are clear penalties forviolating their company's ABAC policies, and 35 percent said peoplehave been penalized for breaching the company's policies.

Nevertheless, 39 percent of all respondents—and 54 percent ofthose who work in emerging markets—said bribery and/or corruptpractices happen widely in business in their country. Thisperception is virtually unchanged from the 2012 EY survey, in which38 percent of all respondents, and 56 percent in emerging markets,said bribery and corruption are widespread in their country.