Clean Government Research Articles

What Prevents the Philippines from Undertaking Tax Reform? A Story of the Unravelling State

One of the crucial areas of government policy responsible for the weak development performance of the Philippines is tax policy and administration. By 2011, the tax to GDP ratio had fallen to a meagre 12.3 per cent, 4.6 percentage points below the pre-1997 level and around 7 points below the regional average. The absence of tax reform reflects a set of inter-related factors. First, long periods of political and economic stability have meant that crises have not provided the opportunity for reform that they allowed, for instance, in Latin America. Second, the highest level of income inequality in East Asia has resulted in state capture by the elite, which in turn perpetuates and increases income differences. Third, Filipinos exhibit a marked preference for the state to deliver private over public goods as a modern and legal version of patronage. Fourth, the middle classes, on whose shoulders the tax burden largely falls, aware of the state’s inability to tax the wealthy and the relatively poor quality of public services, opt out of state services and provide privately for education, health and even security. Fifth, the disempowerment of the poor keeps them quiescent, not putting pressure on the state to cater to their needs. Promising avenues for change include: a) academia and development partners to take a more active role in analysing and disseminating the reasons for the poor performance of the Philippine economy; b) stronger leadership by churches in encouraging integrity and pro-poor attitudes, behaviour, institutions and policies; and c) a coalition of all interested stakeholders for a more developmental, clean and pro-poor government, including committed civil servants and politicians, civil society organisations, academia, media, church groups and private sector representatives.

The Contemporary Value of Xunzi's Political Ethics Thought for the Social Administration

Xunzi`s political ethical thought, including gentleman personality, people-oriented, prospering etiquettes and respecting law and so on, still has a relational meaning for the modern social political moral construction. Gentleman personality comes with an obligation to improve the leading officials` morality; the idea of people-oriented has a vital significance for establishing“ put people first“ thought throughout society and insisting the mass line; This statecraft that focuses both on ritual and law has a very important revelation for improving the foundation for anti-corruption and a clean government. Xunzi`s political ethical thought provides the value for our country`s conducting a harmonious and efficient social administration through the three dimensions mentioned above.

English

This paper was aimed to measure the integrity of public service at Kutai Kartanegara Regency, East Borneo Province, Indonesia. The public service integrity can be seen from many perspective such as how the citizens satisfied with the public services provided by the government, how the public perception on combating corruption, and how success the government providing minimum service standard to the public at large. This three forms of public service integrity was the main focuses of this research in Kutai Kartanegara regency. The phenomenon of public service in Kutai Kartanegara Regency shown out of the tracks and missing to convey the importance of public service values, characterized by uncertainty of charges, time, and procedures. The research used the quantitative methods by scoring 3 indexes, which are the Citizen Satisfaction Index, Corruption Perception Index, and Minimum Service Standard Index. This research used Non- probability Sampling method, also Judgment Sampling procedure, in the development and compilation of the citizens satisfaction index. There were 57 local government agencies that served as the samples. The results of this research were the public service integrity perceptions in Kutai Kartanegara regency was need to be improved on the quantity and quality of public service delivery, commitment and efforts to create a clean government, transparency and accountability espe cially on e-procurement and to implement minimum

Impact of female legislators on support for honest government

PurposeGiven that female candidates benefit more from an election based on a proportional representation system as opposed to a plurality system and the extent of corruption may not change much across a crude classification of electoral systems, this study attempts to connect the level of corruption to the proportion of female legislators by introducing the electoral rules as an instrument for the latter variable.Design/methodology/approachThis paper uses electoral rules as an instrument for the elected women to clarify the causality of women on corruption since a country with a high number of female legislators may simply have superior economic performance, which may reveal a simultaneous preference for gender equality and clean government. Section 2 describes the relationships between corruption and women. Section 3 provides the empirical specification by first building a channel from the electoral rules to elected women and then investigating the influence of female legislators on the level of corruption. This section also provides a description of the data. Section 4 presents the results of the analysis. Section 5 concludes.FindingsThe results show that having more women in parliament results in more honest government, which is very likely to be causally evident.Originality/valueThis study investigates whether more seats taken by female parliamentarians results in a less corrupt government. While a large and growing body of research on this issue claims that there is a link between a higher level of female representation in government and lower levels of corruption, it is uncertain if a causal relationship can be established. This study attempts to provide evidence by building a channel from electoral rules and gender quotas to the fraction of female legislators, while consequently investigating the impact of female legislators on corruption. Based on the countries contained in this study, the results suggest that the presence of female parliamentarians apparently has a significantly negative effect on the level of corruption, which is very likely to be causally evident.

ANALISIS PENGAWASAN DAN KINERJA APARATUR PEMERINTAH DAERAH

Implementation of the monitoring task in today's society is a beacon of hope , if we review the history of surveillance in our country since we carry out the development plan that we are familiar with the Five-Year Plan , it has since we also began to implement the basics of administrative management in the absence of planning seklus , implementation , monitoring , thus the three elements of management is an integral and equal weight , that can be attributed to the prinsifnya supervision is very important . In the implementation of regional autonomy kelacaran pegawasan in local government organization is necessary for the organization of local governments to work effectively and efficiently and economically , as well as supervision is one important element in order to improve the performance of araturur in performing common tasks and building a clean government and authoritative therefore deemed necessary to improve the implementation of effective monitoring body within the apparatus of government in each of continuous and thorough . through supervision fungisonal to establish the level of success of governance and implementation of development one of them held a performance assessment of local government officials over menfaat and successful policies, implementation of programs , projects and activities . Konci words : monitoring , performance of local government officials

PENGARUH KOMPETENSI, INDEPENDENSI, DAN ETIKA TERHADAP KUALITAS AUDITOR PADA APARAT INSPEKTORAT DALAM PENGAWASAN PENGELOLAAN KEUANGAN DAERAH KOTA BITUNG

The increasing demands of the community for clean governance, fair, transparent, andaccountable should be taken seriously and systematically. All levels of state officials, both at the level of the executive, legislative, and judicial branches must have a shared commitment to uphold good governance and clean government. The study was conducted in the supervision of Government Internal City officials in this regard Inspectorate Bitung in Bitung City. In the present study investigated the influence of competence, independence and ethics for auditors in monitoring the quality of financial management. The purpose of research is to determine how much influence the competence, independence, and ethics to the quality of the personnel inspectorate auditors in financial management oversight Bitung City.Data analysis methods used are descriptive statistics, the classical assumption test, test correlation coefficient, coefficient of determination t est, hypothesis testing ( test f and t test ) . to complete the overall data analysis used SPSS software version 20. The results showed the equation Y = 6.882 -0.019 + 0.437 X1 0.300 X2 + X3. Of multiple linear regression equation shows a constant value of 6.882 gives the sense that if competence ( X1) , independence ( X2 ) , and ethics ( X3 ) constant perceived or equal to zero ( 0 ) , then the magnitude of the variable quality of the auditor on the apparatus inspectorate ( Y ) amounted to 6.882. Correlation coefficient obtained for the coefficient of determination of 0.700 and 0.490, while the remaining 51% of other variables not examined in this study. Results of hypothesis testing ( test f ) indicates the level of significance is less than 0.05 is 0.000 thus, the study received HA4 hypothesis, and hypothesis testing ( t test ) showed for the variable ( X1 ) = 0.864 competence as such, this study rejected Ha1 hypothesis which states that competency variable does not affect the quality of the auditors, it can be seen from a greater significance level of 0.05 is 0.864. These results contrast with previous research that states that affect the quality of the auditor's competence. This is due to the lack of training in research or no education system appropriate competency and followed by the Inspectorate in the auditor oversight of financial management in the city of Bitung, ( X2) = 0.05 ie 0.001 independence as such, this study received a hypothesis Ha2, and ( X3 ) = 0.05 ie 0.008 ethics as such, this study received Ha3 hypothesis.

Anti-Corruption Initiatives and E-Government: A Cross-National Study

This paper discusses various approaches of anti-corruption initiatives and conducts statistical analyses on aggregate data of more than 200 different countries to find relationships between e-government and anti-corruption in government. Findings indicate that e-government could be an effective tool to curb corruption in government in spite of the fact that the rule of law is the most powerful predictor of anti-corruption as well as a fundamental precondition of a clean government. Findings also indicate that if digital government is strengthened with high-quality public bureaucracies, anti-corruption efforts could more effectively lower the corruption levels of public affairs.

Anti-Corruption Approaches in Macao: lawmaking and legal enforcement

Successive governments have sought to address the enduring problem of corruption in Macao. Yet the institutional framework for dealing with corrupt practices has singularly failed to live up to political promises and public expectations of clean government. The Ao Man-long case, in which a former Secretary for Transport and Public Works was found guilty of corrupt practices involving an estimated $800 million (about US$100 million), rocked public confidence in the anti-corruption institutions and gave credence to the widely-held view that an expanded gaming industry had provided more opportunities for illicit behavior. Diagnosing the causes of failure suggests that neither a lack of resources nor the absence of rules serves to explain the continuing high levels of bureaucratic corruption. Rather the explanation for the failure of the institutional framework lies in the content of the rules and the way in which they are implemented. While this situation continues to persist, it is unlikely that the problem of bureaucratic corruption will be resolved or that its wider impact on the government's legitimacy will be reduced.

Peningkatan Kapasitas dan Akuntabilitas Kinerja Birokrasi dan Indikator serta Model Pengukurannya

Accountability is an obligation embodiment of government institutions to take responsibility for the success and failure of their mission. Implementation of accountability through a strategic approach, which will accommodate the rapid changes occurring in the organization and quickly adapt to changes as the demands anticipatory stakeholders concerned. Implementation of accountability and the external examination itself is needed as one of the pillars for the creation of good governance and clean government. The democratic climate in public bureaucracies inspires trust and mutual trust between the government and the public. A clear division of powers and a balance between the state creates a conducive atmosphere to the built of the nation and the state.

The Challenges and Obstacles in Measuring Performance for Public Sector Organization: Study in Indonesia

After Soeharto era, the bureaucracy reform in Indonesia was accelerated by the pressure of the society. The revitalization of policy system, manpower planning and also anti-corruption euphoria, were become spirit to create clean and good governance. To achieve bureaucracy reform especially in civil servant management is to measure its performance. This preliminary study conducted in the Government Procurement Regulatory Body (LKPP), using qualitative method through in-depth interview and focus group discussion, also literature review. The result of the study present that there are some challenges in measuring performance in the institution. The lack of knowledge in making performance planning, the absence of reward-punishment system are some pre condition that believe as an obstacles to measure the institution performance.

A Primary Exploration on the Building of Rural Grassroots Party Organization in Perspective of Harmonious Society

For the building of a harmonious society in China, the key point is from the rural area, and so do the difficult point. Starting from the leadership, team building, organization building, sense of democracy, clean Government, and other related aspects, to strengthen the building of rural grassroots Party organizations is an inevitable requirement for the consolidation of the governing position of Communist Party of China (CPC), and also an objective requirement for the building of a harmonious society and the realization of a comprehensive well-off society.

PAS in Kedah: cultural politics of pigs and development

On March 8, 2008, PAS led the coalition to victory in Kedah, winning 16 seats, while Barisan National won only 14 state seats. This paper highlights cultural dimensions of the shift from BN to the opposition coalition in this state of the Malay heartland. The PAS manifesto and campaign speeches in Kedah emphasized Islamic ethics, a just, clean, and pure government which would strive to improve the conditions of all the people. These notions of a “just” and “unmixed” party struggling to “strengthen Islam” resonated with many Malays in Kedah. In contrast, UMNO was depicted as corrupt practitioners of bribes and money politics who prioritize the interests of the rich over the needy. They were criticized as materialist, elitist figures stuck in their ways like the Pharaoh, while PAS’ commitment to upholding Islam was likened to the prophets. In addition, this paper discusses the way PAS approaches the issue of the “social contract” between Malays and other ethnic groups and the way their construct of Malay identity spoke to many Malay voters. I argue that PAS rhetoric must be viewed as more than political use of Islamic symbols, and that its effectiveness rests in the way it evokes more extensive cultural models. Finally, this paper considers the controversial post-election demolition of a pig slaughterhouse in a predominantly Malay kampong in Kota Setar, Kedah. Here I argue that this case embodies and reaffirms the cultural politics of the general election.

The Corruption Trend among Public Officials in Malaysia: An Overview

The war against corruption is vital to a nation. No one can dispute the negative consequences of corruption, but still, there are those who tend to condone its practice and view it as a necessary evil of economic development. Governments in several Asian and African countries tend to accept this as part and partial of economic development. However, the fallacy of this argument was exposed following the 1997 Asian financial crisis, which demonstrated how corruption had short-changed the countries. The example of Singapore was proof of the argument that a clean government is best positioned to handle an economic crisis. Corruption or bribery investigations should not be kept private but placed in the realm of public knowledge. To understand the main factors that lead to the increase of corruption among male officers as compared to women officers is of great importance as it may suggest the suitability of the Malaysian government or the federal government framework in controlling or curbing corruption for the Malaysian community which lay emphasis on traditional norms and values.

Problems and Countermeasures on Corporate Internal Audit in China

Along with the increasing embeddedness of corporate reform, current China has to confront the significant issues of how to establish and improve corporate governance structure, optimize internal control, promote effective use of corporate resources, and avoid fraud and waste. Corporate internal audit is the auditing, monitoring and evaluating on corporate internal economic activities, so as to strengthen internal management and increase economic efficiency. Its purpose is to expose and reflect real status of corporate assets, debts, profit and loss, to investigate various illegal problems on corporate financial receipts and expenditures, to maintain China’s ownership rights, to promote clean government establishment, to prevent the loss of state-owned assets, and to serve the governmental macro-control. Therefore, based on relevant theories of internal audit, this paper is to analyze several problems on internal audit and propose countermeasures to the internal audit problems under China’s modern enterprise system.

Sōka Gakkai and Politics in Japan

Sōka Gakkai, the largest of the so-called New Religions (shinshūkyō) in Japan, was founded in the 1930s by the educator Makiguchi Tsunesaburō1 and started its political involvement during the 1950s under its second president Toda Jōsei. Sōka Gakkai was not unique among new religions in being actively involved in politics after the Second World War; several other religious groups supported their candidates or joined political committees. However, Sōka Gakkai was the only religion in postwar Japan to found an independent political party that has established itself as an enduring presence in the Japanese electoral system. Indeed its political involvement culminated in the formation of the Kōmeitō (Clean Government Party), in 1964, renamed Shin Kōmeitō in 1998. This article surveys three issues concerning Sōka Gakkai’s political activities: the involvement of religious groups in political activities in the postwar period, the foundation of Kōmeitō and the group’s interpretation of Nichiren Buddhism regarding the relationship between religion and the state.

Transitions to Clean Government: Amnesty as an Anticorruption Measure

Anti-corruption research has been dominated by inquiries into the formal structures of clean governance, while the actual process of changing the culture of corruption has been overlooked. This paper views ‘transition to clean government’ as a conceptual parallel to ‘democratisation’ and anti-corruption measures as instances of transitional justice. Contrary to the mainstream scholarship, it argues that: (1) Measures that lead to clean government differ from measures that contribute to its maintenance; and (2) amnesty may play a crucial role in establishing clean government, if it inspires a change in political culture. To illustrate its propositions, this paper applies the literature on transitional justice and democratisation to anti-corruption strategies and re-examines the particular circumstances surrounding amnesty in Hong Kong's successful transformation into one of the cleanest governments in Asia.

Japanese Conservatism and the Integration of Foreign Residents

AbstractGranting foreign permanent residents the right to vote in local elections in Japan was one of the Clean Government Party (CGP)'s major policy priorities during its 11 years governing in coalition with the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). While the CGP proposed several bills that would have done this, none of those bills came close to passing. Why not? Conventional wisdom about Japanese conservatism suggests that the LDP would not support such a bill because the party is uniformly committed to the idea that Japan is a one-ethnicity country, and thus the party is hostile to proposals that would grant those without Japanese ethnicity a role in Japanese society. However, I argue that Japanese conservatives in general, and LDP politicians in particular, have major disagreements about the appropriate role of foreign residents in Japanese society. Moreover, I argue that LDP politicians did not support the CGP's proposal to grant foreign permanent residents the right to vote in local elections in Japan because this proposal did not appeal to politicians from either of the dominant conservative schools of thought about foreign residents in Japan.

The Drive for Participatory Democracy in Nineteenth Century Britain

In association with the industrial revolution, a wide range of new self-help organisations, from friendly societies and cooperatives to trade unions, were constructed by rising urban working classes and a lower middle class in nineteenth century Britain. The process was broad and deep, built upon a pre-existing culture of democracy, and extended through a vibrant autodidact workers' society. Against entrenched oligarchical power, the popular movement aimed not only at universal suffrage and governmental power, through the formation of a Labour Party, but also at clean government and a participatory democracy of self-determining groups and institutions. After a century of struggle the successes of the British working classes were intermixed with failure. Their efforts nonetheless represented an exemplar of democratisation based on a burgeoning civil society and strong trade union movement within advancing capitalist development, as witnessed again in South Africa through the 1980s and possibly beyond.

Thimphu

The only capital city in the world without a traffic light, Thimphu is currently in the throes of major building projects as Bhutan modernizes with a new parliamentary monarchy and an increasingly open economy. The Thimphu Structural Plan adopted in 2002 provides a blueprint to guide the city in its transition from isolation to global participant. This analysis utilizes recent data from the first accurate census, updated GIS maps, and observations from several trips to assess Thimphu’s development stage and strategy. The urban landscape and plans being implemented reflect Bhutan’s commitment to combine traditional elements such as sacred and secular architecture and community-promoting village clusters along with adequate public transportation and price-supported housing, internet cafes and e-governance. The “Four Pillars of Gross National Happiness” (preserving culture and the environment, sustainable economy, and clean government) shape the urban setting. Thimphu serves as the capital city, site of political and economic power, and indicator of future directions for a strategically located Himalayan country.

Old wine in new bottles: a county-level case study of anti-corruption reform in the People’s Republic of China

This paper examines the role of the target-based responsibility system for building upright Party style and clean government in combating corruption in local China. It argues that the effectiveness of the target-based responsibility system in corruption control is compromised by a number of implementation hurdles in practice. Based on a close examination of one county, Shaanxi Province in the northwest China, this study shows that low measurability of the targets, the conflict between anti-corruption work and other evaluation targets, and the impact of patronage politics account for the implementation failure of the target-based responsibility system. The fundamental problem lies in that under China’s unified cadre personnel management system, political will can interfere with the handling of corruption on a case-by-case basis, no matter what kind of anti-corruption mechanism is employed. Under this context, the adoption of the target-based responsibility system in fighting corruption results in nothing more than “pouring old wine into new bottles.”