Republic of the Philippines

POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES

Sta. Mesa Campus

POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES

Bachelor of Public Administration
College of Political Science and Public Administration

IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR PHILIPPINE

ADMINISTRATIVE THOUGHTS AND INSTITUTIONS

Decentralization and Corruption

Submitted to:
Professor Pamela Muhi
Submitted by:
Ericka Jane Tagalag
BPA 1-2
February 12, 2020
Corruption is a true enemy to development. It is said by a politician and past president of

Mongolia in 2009 to 2017, Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj. And indeed, a country, city, or place

cannot and will not prosper and develop if corruption is present. However, corruption is

really a tough enemy because it is hard to fight with. People are easy to be manipulated

not by other people, but by money. If not all, maybe most of our politicians and

bureaucrats are corrupt. People, especially taxpayers and voters gain trust issues

because of the fear of getting robbed by their own voted politician, but these politicians

are eager and resilient to get their positions back even if they have background of

corruption.

On Fisman’s and Gatti’s past study in October 1999 which is entitled

“Decentralization and Corruption: Evidence Across Countries” shows about the recent

studies in regards to how corruption becomes a problem to local governments because

they argue that a centralized bureaucracy creates incentives to divert resources to people

who do not lack money.

Another article and project which was led by Hamish Nixon, “Decentralization,

multilevel governance and corruption” shows how many different forms, effects, and

causes corruption has. This project of Hamish Nixon is a two-year research about the

comparative and multilevel approach to decentralization and corruption in different

countries. Impacts of corruption in different decentralized countries were discussed in the

article.

Decentralization has been a dominant policy reform across developing countries

that makes the relationship of the government and the people closer, fight corruption, and

increase sense of responsibility. In the paper about the Dangers of Decentralization, it is

stated that corruption is more present in decentralization and it is more widespread in the

local than in the national because local politicians and bureaucrats tend to demand more

from local interest groups. Also, corruption at the local level have fewer obstacles since

corruption needs cooperation of the politicians and the bureaucrats. In that case, it is

easier to rob money from the government in the local level because local bureaucrats

cannot separate themselves to local politicians. National officials have a tradition to speak

only what is honest and true, in which local officials lack. In addition to that, local officials

have more freedom to decide what they want to do. Discretion is a major theoretical

advantage of decentralization because the freedom of the officials would be given more

attention if a region or country is decentralized.

References:
Nixon, H. (2019). Decentralization, multilevel governance and corruption. Retrieved from

https://www.odi.org/projects/2911-decentralisation-multilevel-governance-and-

corruption

Joaquin, E. (2014, December 8). Decentralization and Corruption: The Bumpy Road to

Public Sector Integrity in Developing Countries. Retrieved from

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10999922.2004.11051256?journalCo

de=mpin20

Fisman, R. & Gatti, R. (1999, October). Decentralization and Corruption: Evidence Across

Countries. Retrieved from

http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/264891468780583449/820140748_20

04041311100411/additional/28202.pdf