Decentralization and corruption<\/p>\n
I refer to the article published in The Jakarta Post on April
\n8, titled Decentralization in urgent need of major overhaul.<\/p>\n
It is sometimes amazing to observe the ills and shortcomings
\nthat are attributed to the current decentralization policy. The
\nabove-mentioned article is another example of this tendency to
\nargue that decentralization has resulted in widespread corruption
\nin the regions.<\/p>\n
Corruption had been identified as a key problem within
\nIndonesia's public sector way before the current decentralization
\npolicy was embarked upon. Why should regional administrations be
\nbetter (ie. less corrupt) than their role models at national
\nlevel? Indeed, by moving a considerable proportion of public
\nfunds to the regions the opportunities for corrupt behavior have
\nincreased at regional level, just as the opportunities for
\ncorruption have decreased at national level. The current systems
\nof supervision and control are clearly not functioning as well as
\nthey should.<\/p>\n
However, they did not succeed in weeding out corruption at the
\nnational level, either. Let's be clear about it: Decentralization
\ndoes not cause corruption, it only changes the locations where
\ncorruption occurs. Whether small-scale corruption at the regional
\nlevel is easier to eradicate than large-scale corruption at
\nnational level is a matter of debate. However, it seems plausible
\nthat corrupt behavior at regional level is much easier to detect
\nthan its counterpart in the corridors of central government.<\/p>\n
Eradication of corruption does not require a major overhaul of
\ndecentralization. It requires a major overhaul of the Indonesian
\npublic sector.<\/p>\n
RAINER ROHDEWOHLD, Deputy Leader, Decentralization, Policy Team,
\nGTZ Support for Decentralization Measures, Ministry of Home Affairs
\nJakarta<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/decentralization-and-corruption-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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