Overcoming Cultures of Compliance to Reduce Corruption and Achieve Ethics in Government

McGeorge Law Review, Vol. 41, p. 63, 2009

21 Pages Posted: 27 Jan 2010 Last revised: 11 Feb 2010

See all articles by James M. Lager

James M. Lager

US Government Accountability Office; University of Maryland - Robert H Smith School of Business

Date Written: October 22, 2009

Abstract

Despite decades of failed anti-corruption efforts, most government organizations operate as if additional compliance-based efforts will curb corruption. This article offers an explanation for why many of the government ethics rules imposed on public agencies and their employees, and associated compliance-oriented efforts, fail and are often counterproductive, and suggests instead the adoption of values-based ethics programs and practices to reduce corruption. (This abstract is not in the original article)

Keywords: Compliance, Ethics, Government Ethics, Financial Disclosure, Ethical Culture, Ethical Climate, Compliance-Oriented, Vaues-Based, Code of Conduct, Ethics Training, Deterrence, Ethical Leadership

JEL Classification: K42, D23, D73

Suggested Citation

Lager, James M. and Lager, James M., Overcoming Cultures of Compliance to Reduce Corruption and Achieve Ethics in Government (October 22, 2009). McGeorge Law Review, Vol. 41, p. 63, 2009, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1492978

James M. Lager (Contact Author)

University of Maryland - Robert H Smith School of Business ( email )

College Park, MD 20742
United States

HOME PAGE: http://www.rhsmith.umd.edu/accounting/faculty/lager.aspx

US Government Accountability Office ( email )

441 G Street, NW
Washington, DC 20548
United States
2025128170 (Phone)

HOME PAGE: http://www.gao.gov

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