The triple threat: Understanding the effects of cyber threats, corruption, and money laundering on the business environment

Research background:Cyber threats, corruption and money laundering are interconnected factors that pose significant challenges to the business environment. Their impact varies based on a country's economic development and the effectiveness of countermeasures. Despite global and national efforts to combat these threats, their combined influence on business conditions requires further examination. Purpose of the article: This study aims to analyse the impact of cyber threats, corruption, and money laundering on the business environment across different country groups. It identifies the most vulnerable aspects of business to triple threats and highlights countries exhibiting anomalies in their ability to counter these illegal practices. Methods: The research utilises data from 125 countries, incorporating the Basel Anti-Money Laundering Index, the National Cyber Security Index, and the Corruption Perceptions Index. Correlation analysis established statistically significant relationships between these threats and business conditions. Cluster analysis identified three country groups based on GDP, ease of doing business, and countermeasure effectiveness. Canonical analysis determined the most affected business sectors, while neural network modelling revealed countries with exceptionally high or low effectiveness in combating these threats. Findings & value added: The most affected areas include tax payments, international trade, contract enforcement, electricity access, and insolvency procedures. Among developed countries, Denmark, Finland, and Norway demonstrate high effectiveness in countering these threats, whereas Bulgaria, Cyprus, and Greece show lower efficiency. In developing nations, China, Thailand, and Kazakhstan exhibit strong countermeasures, while Egypt, Ghana, and Grenada lag behind. Among the least developed countries, Mozambique and Nicaragua show high effectiveness, while Venezuela and Yemen fall into the low-performance category. These findings provide a foundation for enhancing national policies and strategies to strengthen economic security and resilience against financial crimes and cyber threats.