#global integrity

Global Integrity realizó una evaluación de los 42 planes de acción disponibles a la fecha utilizando la metodología SMART. Los investigadores de GF analizaron si los planes son: (1) ESpecíficos; (2) Medibles; (3) Accionables; (4) Relevantes y (5) sujeto a Temporalidad. 

Entre los resultados se encuentran los siguientes:

- 70% de los planes de acción cumplen con al menos cuatro de los criterios SMART

- Poco más de 15% de los planes contienen compromisos ajenos al concepto de gobierno abierto

- Alrededor del 15% de los países analizados carecen de un plan de ejecución de las actividades propuestas

- Entre los planes de acción que destacan los investigadores como los más sólidos se encuentran: Brasil, Canadá, Israel, Croacia y Moldova. 

- Aún hay confusión respecto al significado del término "gobierno abierto"

Bill Buzenberg appeared on C-SPAN's "Washington Journal" Monday morning to talk about the inspiration for the State Integrity Investigation and the project's findings. The Center for Public Integrity's Executive Director spoke at length with host John McArdle about the investigation, answering questions about why New Jersey ranked first, why Georgia ranked last, and why CPI, Global Integrity, and Public Radio International got involved with the investigation in the first place.

“The work is very serious," Buzenberg said. "Those who have looked at it recognize how detailed it is, and how it will last a long time. This is going to have a very long shelf life."

Buzenberg pointed out that the State Integrity Investigation had already been cited as evidence in reform efforts in five different states.

Buzenberg also took questions from callers, many of whom had the same question: "How did my state do?"

One caller from St. Louis, Missouri rang in to congratulate Buzenberg and decry the often unnoticed power lobbying groups wield in state government.

"I really don't think that people truly understand the influence that -- moreso, that their local governments and their state governments have on their lives, rather than the federal," she said. "So many reporters report on the federal government...there's so much being slipped through with state governments, it's amazing."

Buzenberg echoed the woman's concerns, saying the leverage special interests have within state governments is a major concern, particularly with a weakened local press to keep tabs on the flow of power and influence.

"Lobbyists understand," Buzenberg said, "that they can move into 30-some states, help change the laws in those states, and they could effectively change the laws in the whole country. So, the state level is very important. We’re seeing less watchdog work at the state level -- that was the real reason and impetus for this."

By Gary Childress

Global Integrity’s research on corruption laws with state by state ranking certainly did bring questions in my mind.  I do understand that the research did not attempt to locate corruption but only looked at the structure to protect against corruption. One would expect a correlation between good corruption prevention structure and sound management and fiscal results.  Quite the reverse appears to be the case.

Recently 24/7 Wall St. published a study of the best-run states.  Wyoming was number one, Nebraska number two and if my memory serves me correctly the Dakotas were near the top.  The states at or near the top of Global Integrity's list were typically the worst run states.

The various municipal credit rating organizations to the most part rate the bottom of the Global Integrity list higher credit than the top.  In fact most of the states with severe credit risk are near the top of Global’s ranking.  Why is there not a correlation?

I am not challenging your research, quite the reverse.  The fact that it leaves a question proves its merit.  As stated above: Why is there not a correlation?  This could be the question of another study.  The answers might be helpful to all states. 

There are likely many things going on other than the legal structure.  What are they?

Gary Childress is a retired businessman who divides his time between Wyoming and Connecticut.