Learning Objectives
What is the role of ethics in the public sector?

After studying this unit you should be able to:

• Explain why ethics reforms were introduced in the governments of several countries;

• Discuss the objectives that ethics reforms were meant to achieve;

• Assess whether and to what extent ethics reforms have been effective in achieving those objectives.

Introduction

Ethics reforms were introduced to perform both an internal and an external function in the public sector.  Specifically, they are intended to not only induce higher standards of behavior among politicians and bureaucrats but also, and more importantly, to reconstruct voters’ trust in the political system.  This unit discusses the objectives of ethics reforms in the public sector, and briefly assesses to what extent ethics reforms are effective.