The use of technology for managing income and asset declarations

Query

Could you provide an overview of software for managing and verifying asset declarations of public officials, including examples of countries where it has been implemented and lessons learned from implementation?

Purpose

Our Anticorruption and Integrity Department would need this information to inform other projects. 

Content

1. Benefits and challenges of using technology for managing income and asset declarations
2. The use of technology for managing income and asset declarations
3. Country examples
4. References

Caveat

There is no universal generic software that can be used by countries to manage asset declaration schemes, and most countries have developed their own customised technical solutions. This answer focuses on the expected benefits of the use of technology for managing asset declarations and the core functions that such software should perform.

Summary

There is evidence in countries such as Argentina that the use of technology can improve the effectiveness and efficiency of asset declaration schemes by increasing compliance and decreasing management costs. The use of technology can contribute to reducing human error in the submission process, increasing the efficacy of the verification process and facilitating public access to asset declaration information.

Software for managing asset declaration regimes needs to be tailored to the local legislation and declaration items. No universal software can embrace the wide diversity of required specifications and functionalities that vary greatly across countries. Most oversight bodies implementing a technology-based asset declaration system have developed their own customised technical solution to perform their core functions. 

Authors

Marie Chêne, Transparency International, [email protected]
with input from Richard Messick, Hari Mulukutla and Timan Hoppe

Reviewers

Finn Heinrich, Ph.D., Transparency International, [email protected]

Date

15/09/2015

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