Culture of corruption deeply rooted ALTES Facts & Quotes Inbox September 30, 2013/New York Excerpts from "A faulty incentive system" by Cielito F. Habito, columnist, Philippine Daily Inquirer, September 30th, 2013 • Public service attracts too many incompetents. "It is argued that the public service attracts too many incompetents and people with less than noble intentions because government salaries do not amply reward excellence and professionalism. As they say, if you pay peanuts, you’ll get monkeys." • Honest officials end up casualties. "Sadly, our government has traditionally been a place where crime does pay. The raging pork barrel scandal is said to be only the tip of the iceberg. The culture of corruption has been so deeply rooted that clean and honest officials out to change the system often end up being the casualties—or eventually get corrupted themselves." • Rewards opportunism and dishonesty. "Our political and electoral system, where it seems the only way to get into elective office is to “invest” huge amounts of money in one’s campaign, breeds behavior geared toward recovering the large investment made. I have heard too many people in government, whether elected or appointed, rationalize their errant behavior with a flippant “What are we in power for?” Ours is a system wherein integrity, excellence and professionalism don’t get amply recognized, much less rewarded. But one reaps handsome rewards if he is prepared to engage in opportunism and outright dishonesty." • Culture of rent seeking in public sector. "It is not just in the public sector where the incentive system is flawed. In business, many tend to operate in a culture of rent seeking, rather than one of competition and innovation. Rather than invest in improved efficiency and productivity, too many businessmen find it easier to spend money to lobby or bribe public officials and policymakers into providing them opportunities for making large, unearned profits. These opportunities could come in various forms: award of government contracts, a policy environment that eliminates competition (e.g., via high protective tariffs or import restrictions), or lax implCulture of corruption deeply rooted ALTES Facts & Quotes Inbox September 30, 2013/New York Excerpts from "A faulty incentive system" by Cielito F. Habito, columnist, Philippine Daily Inquirer, September 30th, 2013 • Public service attracts too many incompetents. "It is argued that the public service attracts too many incompetents and people with less than noble intentions because government salaries do not amply reward excellence and professionalism. As they say, if you pay peanuts, you’ll get monkeys." • Honest officials end up casualties. "Sadly, our government has traditionally been a place where crime does pay. The raging pork barrel scandal is said to be only the tip of the iceberg. The culture of corruption has been so deeply rooted that clean and honest officials out to change the system often end up being the casualties—or eventually get corrupted themselves." • Rewards opportunism and dishonesty. "Our political and electoral system, where it seems the only way to get into elective office is to “invest” huge amounts of money in one’s campaign, breeds behavior geared toward recovering the large investment made. I have heard too many people in government, whether elected or appointed, rationalize their errant behavior with a flippant “What are we in power for?” Ours is a system wherein integrity, excellence and professionalism don’t get amply recognized, much less rewarded. But one reaps handsome rewards if he is prepared to engage in opportunism and outright dishonesty." • Culture of rent seeking in public sector. "It is not just in the public sector where the incentive system is flawed. In business, many tend to operate in a culture of rent seeking, rather than one of competition and innovation. Rather than invest in improved efficiency and productivity, too many businessmen find it easier to spend money to lobby or bribe public officials and policymakers into providing them opportunities for making large, unearned profits. These opportunities could come in various forms: award of government contracts, a policy environment that eliminates competition (e.g., via high protective tariffs or import restrictions), or lax implementation of rules and standards that let firms get away with cutting costs at the expense of the welfare and safety of the general consumer." ementation of rules and standards that let firms get away with cutting costs at the expense of the welfare and safety of the general consumer."
Posted on: Mon, 30 Sep 2013 23:31:01 +0000
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