a framework for ict use to combat administrative corruption subhash bhatnagar advisor egovernment,...
TRANSCRIPT
A Framework for ICT Use to Combat Administrative
Corruption
Subhash BhatnagarAdvisor eGovernment, ISGIA, World Bank, Washington DC
(Adjunct Professor Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad)
Presentation Structure• Types of administrative corruption and
consequences of corruption• Generic problems that lead to administrative
corruption and some solutions• Examples of ICT use with impact on corruption• ICT use how does it help?• Key design elements of different types of ICT
interventions• What are the critical success factors in sustaining
impact on corruption?
Consequences of Administrative Corruption
• Largest cost is borne by the poor and the honest• Raises cost of doing business for SMEs by 20%• Irritant to investors, impedes FDI flows• Loss of revenue to Government• Disincentive to honest and efficient employees and citizens• Petty corruption can be organized to collect funds for
politicians and leads to corruption in hiring and transfers.• Increases tolerance for corruption; penalizing the honest;
society begins to accept a perverse incentive system• Increases tolerance for corruption; penalizing the honest;
society begins to accept a perverse incentive system• Erodes TRUST in Government institutions
Types of Corruption in Government to Citizen Contact
• Administrative corruption– Service is denied unless bribe is paid– Service is delayed unless bribe is paid
• Collusion (both parties gain at the expense of Government)– Favored allocation when mismatch between supply and demand– Lower valuation by Tax collection agencies– Waiving of penalties and fines– Tempering government records to provide unfair advantage
• Extortion– Law enforcers, tax collectors make patently unreasonable
demands to extort a bribe
Administrative Corruption: Some Generic Problems
• Complex rules-need for intermediaries• Discretion to delay or deny without assigning reasons- speed money• Incentive for collusion-both parties benefit at the expense of
government/society• Decisions and actions are not traceable. citizens have no access to
information• Lack of supervision in remote areas-problems of decentralization• Large power distance between civil servants and citizens-afraid to
assert and complain• Poor mechanisms of complaint handling. Documentation is weak for
any investigation• Weak investigation, slow judicial system-small chance of punishment• Government is usually the monopoly service provider.• Mismatch in demand and supply—health and education
Anti-corruption Initiatives• Preventing administrative corruption
– Process redesign: efficiency, simplification (need for agents), gate keeper role, discretion, lack of transparency and accountability
– Prevent face to face contact between officials and agents – Challenge: nexus between Politicians, Businessmen and officials
• Detecting Corruption– Complaint handling, whistle blower protection– Investigating agencies: independence, competence and efficiency
• Sanction/prosecution corruption and related offences– Legislative changes– Weak Institutions-Judiciary
• Active public involvement in the fight against corruption– Raising awareness about corruption and reforms– Public scrutiny and access to information– Organizing citizens to create a voice
Applications with Some Impact on Corruption
• Making forms available online• Land Records-BHOOMI, Property Registration in India• Railway Reservation System in India• Municipalities in Seoul (OPEN), LAC countries, India• Weigh and Pay- milk and garbage collection, fines for
trucks• E-procurement:Mexico,Philippines,Bulgaria,Chile • Tax collection at State/ Federal and Local Levels• Customs on-line: India, Philippines, Jamaica• ICT use in Lok Ayukta’s Office in Karnataka• Admissions processing, teachers transfers• CVC Web site(India), CRISTAL(Argentina),examination
results, land allotment results. Loan Defaulters
How Does ICT Use Help?• Introduces transparency in data, decisions/actions, rules,
procedures and performance of Govt. agencies• Automates processes-less discretion, less delay• Entry point for simplification of rules and reengineering • Makes decisions traceable- tracks actions • Builds accountability- greater access to information through
web publishing-role of civil society• Provides documentation to citizens for follow up• Introduces competition amongst delivery channels• Standardized documentation of comments/ objections leads
to effective supervision- through comparative indicators • Centralizes and integrates data for better audit and analysis.• Enables unbiased sampling for audit purposes
Key Outcomes of ICT Interventions
• Automation and Process Reform – Reduce delay, less discretion, less mistakes, minimize face to face
contact
• MIS and its use by supervisors and audit– Detect corruption, investigate, enhance accountability, improve
processes
• Sharing information with public – Builds transparency and trust, supports complaint process, enables
tracking, enhances accountability, involves civil society, deterrent
• Complaint handling– Use of SMS, detection, builds trust
Type of Information being made transparent Resulting benefits
Rules and procedure governing services; public officials responsible for different tasks; citizen’s charter; Enhancing citizen’s exposure
Standardizes procedures for delivery of service. Reduces arbitrariness, e.g. demand for additional documents
Information about decisions and actions of government functionaries: outcome and process e.g. award of contracts and license, allocation of resources.
Exposure of corruption and improved accountability
Data about individual entities in Government records such as land records, comments on application for license, bill of entry for goods, status of tax payments.
Exposure of manipulation for exchange of bribe and corruptionProvides documentation for complaintsInformation to supervisors for monitoring
Information on performance of economy: Statistical employment, income, trade etc.Performance indicator for Government departments
Civic engagement in governanceGreater accountability
Names of citizens with large outstanding loans, taxes; civil servants under investigation or convicted, index of corruption, performance of investigating agencies.
A kind of punishment for the corrupt (civil servants, business, citizens) through public exposure
Disclosure of assets, income, profile of election candidates, elected representatives, ministers and civil servants
Creates disincentive for corruption by creating fear of exposure
STAGE 1Procedures
and Rules forServices
STAGE 2Citizen Charter
and AgencyPerformance forAccountability
STAGE 3Decision Outcomes
and Reasoning
STAGE 4Citizens Can View
Data About Themselves andEntities that they
Own
STAGE 5Online Tracking
Decisions/Actionsof GovernmentFunctionariesby Citizens
Different levels of transparency in Government functioning
Feedback & Complaint Handling Improved monitoring systemsSimplify rules & proceduresSharing information
Client / beneficiary of the service
Lack of organization for demanding improvements
Organizational Providers Lack of resources & poor management Lack of innovationCorruption in appointment and transfers
Politicians and Policy makers ClientelismPersonnel policiesCorruption in appointment and transfers
Frontline ProvidersLack of skills and motivation
Civil society actionSurveys of performanceCitizen’s charters
Access to information, transparency in expendituresTransparency in G2G transactionsAnticorruption enforcement
Grievance redressalTools for activity planningReducing unproductive time in data recordingReducing discretionEfficiency in processing transactions
Feedback & complaint handling
Organizational providersLack of resources & poor managementLack of innovative delivery practices
Politicians & policymakers
Frontline providers
Access to info (transparency) on expendituresTransparency in G2G transactionsReports that help reform policies
ICT Applications inService Delivery
Reasons for Marginal Impact on Corruption
• Privileged citizen seldom experience poor service• Lack of motivation at the top to root out corruption• Weak monitoring and supervision • ICT can not be the only tool. Needs to be
implemented in a context of multi-pronged action• Processes not reengineered adequately-continued
lack of transparency• Insufficient education and awareness of citizens• Inadequate complaint handling mechanisms
ICT Projects: Critical Success Factors
• Strong Political and Administrative Leadership• Clearly identified goals and benefits• Significant Process Reengineering Required• Both simple and complex applications can be effective • In-source Analysis ; Outsource design, software
development, data preparation, training, etc.
• Detailed Project Management • Tackling vested interest-management of change• Training Expenses should not be minimized• Evaluating success is difficult. Need for systematic
evaluation
Enablers of e-Government
• 20 % Technology
• 35 % Business Process Reengineering
• 40 % Change Management
• 5% Luck !
Technology
ProcessPeople
