Corrupt Cities: A Practical Guide to Cure and Prevention

Robert Klitgaard,Ronald MacLean-Abaroa

ISBN 10: 0821346008 / ISBN 13: 9780821346006

Editore: World Bank Publications, 2000

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176 pages. The movement toward decentralization, accountability, and democratic forms of government at the local level is gathering momentum and the enormous costs of c orruption are being explicitly recognized. Corruption is an entrenched symptom o f misgovernance often reflected in patronage, red tape, ineffective revenue-gene rating agencies, large-scale bribery in procurement, and failure to deliver serv ices to city dwellers. But when local officials are accountable to their citizen s, decisionmaking can become participatory. In turn, a participatory process can be the cornerstone of a strategy to reform 'sick' institutions and improve the welfare of city dwellers. n n'Corrupt Cities' is an important contribution to th is emerging field, addressing the historical, traditional, and cultural contexts that create perverse incentives for corruption to exist. At the same time, this book provides practical solutions and a set of incentives charting a path away from misgovernance toward effective local governance. n nThe authors present cas e studies of both success and failure to underscore that addressing corruption i s only an entry point to deeper public-sector reforms. The book serves as a guid e for local reformers and citizen groups intent on changing corrupt systems by i ntroducing practical strategies to combat corruption and to reform local institu tions. Practical tools and approaches are presented, including fiscal transfers, systems to track public revenues and expenditures, simplified rules to improve the procurement process, diagnostics, and participatory techniques for developin g and monitoring local budgets.

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Dati bibliografici

• Titolo: Corrupt Cities: A Practical Guide to Cure and Prevention
• Editore: World Bank Publications
• Data di pubblicazione: 2000
• Lingua: Inglese
• ISBN 10: 0821346008
• ISBN 13: 9780821346006
• Rilegatura: Paperback
• Condizione: Very Good
• Cataloghi dei venditori:
  • Politics

Descrizione articolo

Riassunto

The movement toward decentralization, accountability, and democratic forms of government at the local level is gathering momentum and the enormous costs of corruption are being explicitly recognized. Corruption is an entrenched symptom of misgovernance often reflected in patronage, red tape, ineffective revenue-generating agencies, large-scale bribery in procurement, and failure to deliver services to city dwellers. But when local officials are accountable to their citizens, decisionmaking can become participatory. In turn, a participatory process can be the cornerstone of a strategy to reform 'sick' institutions and improve the welfare of city dwellers.'Corrupt Cities' is an important contribution to this emerging field, addressing the historical, traditional, and cultural contexts that create perverse incentives for corruption to exist. At the same time, this book provides practical solutions and a set of incentives charting a path away from misgovernance toward effective local governance.The authors present case studies of both success and failure to underscore that addressing corruption is only an entry point to deeper public-sector reforms. The book serves as a guide for local reformers and citizen groups intent on changing corrupt systems by introducing practical strategies to combat corruption and to reform local institutions. Practical tools and approaches are presented, including fiscal transfers, systems to track public revenues and expenditures, simplified rules to improve the procurement process, diagnostics, and participatory techniques for developing and monitoring local budgets.

Product Description

Drawing on their experience in battling corruption around the world, the authors of this text offer ways to defeat corruption on the local level. They maintain that "preventing corruption can help raise city revenues, improve service delivery, stimulate public confidence and participation, and win elections". The publication gives examples of where this has been achieved, even in the most adverse settings, and how it can be done again. Case studies from New York, Hong Kong, and La Paz, Bolivia, show how seemingly hopeless problems can become the catalysts of successful reform.