Corrupt Cities: A Practical Guide to Cure and Prevention [Paperback]

Robert Klitgaard (Author), H. Lindsey Parris (Author), Robert B. Hawkins (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 2000

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.

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 175 pages
• Publisher: ICS Press (April 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1558155112
• ISBN-13: 978-1558155114
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,395,759 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Practical, Effective set of tools..., October 22, 2003

By 

Don McC, Webmaster, www.cityethics.org (Jacksonville, Florida) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Corrupt Cities: A Practical Guide to Cure and Prevention (Paperback)

This book is a simple guide for those who are tasked with the eradication of corruption in their city (or nation). It is easy to read, has several very good examples, and breaks the process down into easily digested pieces.

Definitely a must for anyone who is trying to make a difference out there !