DR cut corruption more than any LatAm country in a decade, after facing bribery scandals.

Bar chart comparing the percentage change in corruption perceptions across Latin American countries, showing the Dominican Republic achieved the top corruption cut in the past decade | Sources: Transparency.org, Latinometrics — DR achieves top corruption cut in LatAm's past decade

In the early 2010s, the DR was struggling with bribery allegations and a weak and unwilling-to-prosecute judicial system. Just last year, twenty former officials were arrested in the largest anti-corruption probe in the country's history, which uncovered widespread embezzlement in government contracts.

As for the tragedies, you probably guessed them: Venezuela and Nicaragua continued to undermine institutions and concentrate power in the hands of undemocratic leaders.