CORRUPTION IN LAND USE AND BUILDING REGULATION, V 1 - AN AN INTEGRATED REPORT OF CONCLUSIONS

• NCJ Number: 47543
• Author(s): J A GARDINER; S A WALDHORN; T R LAYMAN
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 120 pages
• Grant Number(s): 76-NI-99-0087
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice; US Dept of Justice NIJ Pub
• Corporate Author: SRI International
• Sale Source: Superintendent of Documents, GPO; National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

TO PROVIDE A DETAILED UNDERSTANDING OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT CORRUPTION IN LAND USE AND BUILDING REGULATIONS, A 2-YEAR STUDY WAS CONDUCTED WITH LITERATURE SEARCHES, ANALYZED CASES, AND STUDIES COMMISSIONED BY EXPERTS IN THE FIELD.

Abstract

THIS VOLUME, THE FIRST IN A SIX-VOLUME SERIES, INTEGRATES THE FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS OF THE SURVEY. IT PRESENTS AN OVERVIEW OF THE PROBLEM, DEFINES CORRUPTION, AND PROVIDES AN ESTIMATE OF ITS EXTENT. IT CONCLUDES THAT THE PROBLEM IS WIDESPREAD AND THAT THE PRESENCE OR ABSENCE OF CORRUPTION IS, IN PART, A REFLECTION OF THE WAYS IN WHICH A COMMUNITY RESPONDS TO CORRUPTION AS IT OCCURS. A BASIC INTRODUCTION TO THE LAND USE AND BUILDING REGULATION SYSTEM IS PRESENTED, AND DESCRIPTIONS ARE PROVIDED OF THE MECHANISMS FOR PLANNING, ZONING, AND ENFORCING BUILDING AND HOUSING CODES. AN ANALYSIS IS ATTEMPTED OF HOW AND WHY CORRUPTION OCCURS, WITH ATTENTION TO THE OPPORTUNITIES AND INCENTIVES FOR CORRUPTION. THESE INCENTIVES ARE EXAMINED FROM THE STANDPOINT OF BOTH THE ZONING OR LAND USE APPLICANT AND THE OFFICIAL IN CONTROL OF THE REGULATORY PROCESS. POSSIBLE REMEDIES FOR CORRUPTION ARE ALSO PRESENTED. BASIC PRINCIPLES WHICH CAN HELP IDENTIFY POTENTIAL CORRUPTION PROBLEMS AND FORMULATE STRATEGY TO CONTROL THEM ARE OFFERED. THE ROLES OF REGULATORY REFORM, IMPROVED MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS, LEGISLATION, AND CITIZEN INVOLVEMENT IN FIGHTING CORRUPTION ARE ALSO EXAMINED. EACH CHAPTER CONTAINS AN EXTENSIVE LIST OF REFERENCES. TABULAR INFORMATION IS PRESENTED, INCLUDING CITIZENS' ESTIMATES OF THE EXTENT OF BRIBERY AND OTHER ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES (BASED ON DATA COLLECTED AS PART OF THE URBAN OBSERVATORY PROGRAM OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT), A GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION OF REPORTED CORRUPTION CASES, A DISTRIBUTION OF REPORTED CORRUPTION CASES BY TYPE OF GOVERNMENT, AND A DIAGRAM OF DECISIONS AND PARTICIPANTS IN LAND USE AND BUILDING REGULATION CASES. APPENDIXES SHOW THE RESEARCH METHODOLOGY USED IN THE STUDY OF OFFICIAL CORRUPTION AND THE PROCESS MODELS USED. FOR RELATED INFORMATION, SEE NCJ-58526, 58523, 58524, AND 58525.