Death by a Thousand Cuts: Recognizing, Reporting, and Responding to Corruption in Local Government. (2nd January 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Yates, Allan; Graycar, Adam
• Is Part Of: Public integrity. Volume 22:Number 1(2020)
• Page Start: 85
• Page End: 103
• Publication Date: 2020-01-02
• Subjects: Australia corruption -- corruption -- Council corruption -- ICAC -- local government corruption; Civil service ethics -- United States -- Periodicals; Public administration -- Moral and ethical aspects -- United States -- Periodicals; Political ethics -- United States -- Periodicals; Civil service ethics -- Periodicals; Public administration -- Moral and ethical aspects -- Periodicals; Political ethics -- Periodicals; Civil service ethics; Political ethics; Public administration -- Moral and ethical aspects; United States; PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION; CIVIL SERVICE; MORAL ASPECTS; POLITICAL ETHICS; Periodicals; 172
• DOI: 10.1080/10999922.2018.1534924
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1099-9922

Abstract

Abstract : Corruption is perceived to exist in local government in Australia. This article explores the disparity between reports of perceived corruption by the public and reports by councils. It notes that perceived corruption in local government is not always recognized by local government officials; when it is, it is often not reported, or if it is reported, it does not receive an adequate response. Research undertaken with 251 employees in 10 Australian Councils raises issues of whether the corruption is systemic, or a set of isolated transgressions. If transgressions are not addressed, they risk becoming normalized, resulting in systemic corruption, and an ethical demise—a death by a thousand cuts.