Structure

Development
Administration in
Developed and Developing
Nations
Sometimes, planning is confined to a few industries, as has happened in Great 
Britain in the pre-Thatcher period. Moreover, planning can also be a part of the 
established processes of economic policy making as is the case in the US where the 
President’s Economic Report, presented to the Congress every year by the 
President, provides direction of economic growth in the coming year. Even the 
budgetary system in most developed countries carries certain features of annual 
plans. The word ‘planning’, however, is not used frequently in the western nations 
since it has been mainly associated with the totalitarian polities. Yet, the 
acceptability of the process of planning seems to be gaining ground in a subtle 
manner in most advanced countries. 
Higher Level of Integrity 
In the surveys conducted by the Transparency International, most western 
developed nations figure high on the integrity score. These scores are based on 
the opinions of businessmen who interact with the governance systems 
functioning in various nations. Although this may not be the most authentic and 
reliable indicator for measuring the level of integrity at the cross-national level, 
yet its significance cannot be under-estimated, particularly in the absence of any 
competing criteria in this respect. 
Since development administration in the western nations involves the 
management of a number of government-run programmes like education, health 
and anti-poverty, there is a direct contact between the government functionaries 
and the beneficiaries. It is commendable that one hears very few complaints of 
irregularities and corruption in the management of government funds at the lower 
level in developed countries. Over the years, the democratic process and the 
attendant control system, including those of the free press, have curbed petty 
corruption. Even though there are occasional scams unearthed in the government 
system in these nations, yet they do not generally touch the common man. 
The vigilance machinery functioning in the western countries has, over the years, 
evolved strength and effectiveness and this has been a deterrent to corrupt 
practices indulged in by government functionaries. The general level of ethics in 
public has been relatively high in the Western nations and as a result, hardly any 
corrupt practices are highlighted in the press or otherwise remain unpunished. 
The high and the mighty have been brought to the book in the US, Japan, Italy 
and other developed nations. One factor that helps the process of punishing the 
culprits is the relatively fast pace of justice as compared to the dilatory judicial 
process in most developing nations, particularly those that have been ruled by the 
British. The criminal justice administration in these countries is cumbersome and 
slow, though the British system of today cannot be accused of tardy justice. 
A positive result of relative low level of corruption in development 
administration in developed nations is that people’s faith in the legitimacy of the 
government systems remains high and their cooperation and participation in 
development administration becomes voluntary.