Accountability to Prevent Corruption in Construction Projects
Publication: Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
Volume 134, Issue 9
Abstract
The American Society of Civil Engineers claims that corruption accounts for an estimated $340 billion of worldwide construction costs each year. Corruption (including bribery, embezzlement, kickbacks, and fraud) in construction projects undermines the delivery of infrastructure services. Further, corruption poses significant risks to construction and engineering companies themselves. What progress has been made, therefore, in reducing the risk of corruption to construction projects? It is the purpose of this paper to argue that with improved accountability, attention to ethics and cultural considerations, and reduced corruption, it is possible to construct, operate, and maintain adequate quality and quantity of infrastructure on a more sustainable basis and thereby improve construction practice. This paper will demonstrate how accountability initiatives in construction projects in developed and developing countries can be of benefit internationally to the public and private sectors as well as nongovernment organizations and researchers in their efforts to reduce corruption in infrastructure services.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
Volume 134 • Issue 9 • September 2008
Pages: 729 - 738
Copyright
© 2008 ASCE.
History
Received: Apr 23, 2007
Accepted: Feb 5, 2008
Published online: Sep 1, 2008
Published in print: Sep 2008
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