The Effectiveness Of UK Anti-Corruption Policy A - Research Proposal Example

The Effectiveness of UK Anti-Corruption Policy: A Research Proposal THE EFFECTIVENESS OF UK ANTI-CORRUPTION POLICY: A RESEARCH PROPOSAL Introduction Public and private enterprises in the UK are expected to comply with the Bribery Act of 2010 and the Fraud Act of 2006 in ensuring zero policy towards corruption, bribery, and fraud (Lambsdorff, 2013: p40). In addition, they are required to investigate perpetration, involvement, or assistance to fraudulent and corrupt practices, and to take disciplinary and, if necessary, legal action against culprits. Fraud, in this case, is the attempt to obtain or take money and other benefits through deception, while bribery involves the receiving, giving, or promising of financial inducements so as to influence a particular outcome (Hough, 2013: p45). These inducements could also be rewards, fees, loans, and gifts. Finally, corruption refers to the solicitation, giving, offering, or acceptance of rewards or inducements to influence the actions of an individual or institution. In these times of economic uncertainty, the hasty changes to institutions and cuts in expenditure by the government in specific areas may have had the unintended consequence of increasing corruption risks (Boeckman et al, 2013: p23). The research study will seek to assess the effectiveness of UK anti-corruption policy, especially during this period. Background Various general academic literature reviews on corruption serve specifically useful purposes as background for this research study. Gofur (2009: p322) focuses on five crucial questions concerning corruption, focusing on important facts about what the public knows and does not know. Some of his findings claim that the corruption levels of a country are determined by the country’s human capital and GDP (Collins, 2012: p4), as well as the degree of political and market competition present in that state. He also discusses how salary and wage incentives could lead to a reduction in bribery, although this is only imaginable when there is a working framework for enforcement. Nevertheless, as of yet, there is no empirical evidence that is convincing about the reduction of corruption among officials through the influence of competition (Bracking, 2012: p54). Expectedly, these observations will be consistent with the current research study’s findings. Ekhator (2012: p96), on his part, gives an outline about history of various methodologies utilized in the measurement of corruption, such as the use of case studies and qualitative data in describing the particulate channels that abet corruption. In addition, he also outlines the history of perception study use in the production of cross-time sets of data, as well as the implementation of refined techniques for data collection, refined surveys, and use of audits to come up with more meaningful and accurate measurements. In addition, he discusses various open questions that require further research. These, for example, include the manner in which corrupt government and private sector officials have adapted to the activity of anti-corruption institutions and policies, in addition to, the effect of increased competition on corruption (Chandler, 2013: p44). There are also several macro-level and cross-country studies, which have focused on the effectiveness of specific anti-corruption strategies (Cooper & Shour, 2012: p126) and on the particular characteristics of countries that have managed to reduce their corruption levels to notably low levels (Burrell et al, 2010: p28). However, it was also noted that most studies of this kind normally provide for correlations, instead of broader causal relationships, especially given the significant differences that occur between different countries and regions. Therefore, in this research study, an attempt will be made to only utilize those evaluations of anti-corruption, which have been carried out at micro-level. This is necessary in order to reduce chances of confounding variables that sometimes mask macro-level study findings (Kochan & Goodyear, 2011: p38). Aims and Objectives Aims This research study will aim to identify different strategies at the micro-level that can be used in anti-corruption policies, as well as to assess current evidence on the various interventions and how effective they have been at decreasing corrupt activities for private and especially public institutional employees. In addition, this research study will aim to identify essential aspects that should be considered by policymakers during decision making on the best anti-corruption practices to be used. Objectives To assess the types of policy tools that can be used in reducing corruption in the UK To assess the policies that have already been rigorously evaluated, as well as to analyze the findings of these evaluations To assess the policies that have as of yet not been rigorously evaluated and need to be tested further To assess the basic criteria that should be taken to account by policy makers in deciding about a specific policy Methodology This research study will evaluate econometric or observational, quasi-experimental, and experimental studies that have evaluated anti-corruption interventions at the micro-level that had to do with incentives and monitoring, as well as changes to systemic rules in reducing corruption among employees in the public sector in the UK. Only those studies that involved interventions that were instituted after 2002 will be used, and they will be required to be of high quality. In searching for relevant literature, the researcher will look for English-language literature that was authored between 2002 and 2013. To do this, a search of major databases like EBSCO, JSTOR, and EconLit, will be carried out, as well as grey sources of literature like ProQuest, Index of Theses, NBER, and IDEAS. In addition, databases and websites of relevant government institutions and organizations will be used, while expert opinions and reference searches will be solicited and conducted respectively. The studies identified will be screened using the inclusion criteria specified and the findings synthesized as a narrative. Bias risks can be avoided using appropriate analysis methods by reporting the important limitations and strengths of included studies interpreting bias risk in the evidence (Chaney, 2012: p32). One major limitation of this study could be the lack of independent evidence assessment by review authors. However, the study will attempt to increase inter-coder reliability. Project Plan Identification of anti-corruption initiatives and policy By consulting various stakeholders at different forums, the researcher, will note ongoing and new initiatives and include them in the assessment system. Identification of objectives and outcomes This will involve the identification of the policies’ vital characteristics with regards to their aims and how they set out to achieve these aims. Design of relevant assessment tools Through an analysis of activities and objectives of the anti-corruption initiatives, it will become possible to come up with indicators and tools to measure the initiatives against, to determine the effectiveness. Identification of verification means This will happen together with the previous step because the relevant assessment tools are dependent on verification means available. Gather monitoring data This data will be gathered when it is needed or when it is available from the relevant sources and literature. Analysis of anti-corruption initiatives against the indicators/assessment tools This will involve the conversion of raw data into information and knowledge usable in the making of decisions and learning. Reporting Following the analysis, the outcomes will be written down in the form of a discussion that is understandable and usable. Feedback and Recommendations The data gathered from the study will be used in making recommendations that can be used to make anti-corruption policy more effective in the UK. Project timeline Week 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Identification of anti-corruption initiatives and policy Identification of objectives and outcomes Design of relevant assessment tools Identification of verification means Gather monitoring data Analysis of anti-corruption initiatives against the indicators/assessment tools Reporting Feedback and Recommendations References Boeckman, P., Greenwald, D. J., & Von Bismarck, N. (2013). Twelfth annual institute on securities regulation in Europe: overcoming deal-making challenges in the current markets. New York, NY, Practicing Law Institute Bracking, S. (2012). Corruption and development: the anti-corruption campaigns. Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hampshire, Palgrave Macmillan. Burrell, P., Cogman, S., & Jacobs, M. (2010). The Bribery Act 2010: An examination of the UKs tough new anti-corruption legislation and the steps companies should take to ensure that their policies and procedures comply. Practical Law for Companies. 21(11), 23-32. Chandler, D. (2013). Empire in denial: the politics of state-building. London, Pluto. Chaney, P. (2012). Additional learning needs policy in the devolved polities of the UK: a systems perspective. Journal of Research in Special Educational Needs. 12(1), 28-36. Collins, P. D. (2012). Introduction to the Special Issue: The Global Anti-Corruption Discourse—Towards Integrity Management? Public Administration and Development. 32(1), 1-10. Cooper, K., & Shour, R. (2012). The UKs Bribery Act one year in: latest advice on compliance. BIMCO Bulletin. 107(4), 123-132 Ekhator, E. O. (2012). Public sector ethics in the United Kingdom: an overview. Inkanyiso. 4(2), 91-100. Gofur, A. (2009). White Collar, Paper Tiger: Corruption in the UK. Tilburg Foreign Law Review: Journal on Foreign and Comparative Law. 13(4), 317-334. Hough, D. (2013). Corruption, anti-corruption and governance. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan Kochan, N., & Goodyear, R. (2011). Corruption the new corporate challenge. London, Palgrave Macmillan. Lambsdorff, J. (2013). The institutional economics of corruption and reform: theory, evidence, and policy. Cambridge, UK, Cambridge University Press Read More