Integrity Score 1712
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Lawmakers passed the US$1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill on Nov. 5, 2021, with negotiations still ongoing over Democrats’ $1.75 trillion plan to expand the social safety net and tackle climate change.
The proposed $3 trillion in total spending is not only a big investment but a serious target for fraud.
Most government spending does reach the intended targets – like mass transit, clean energy and broadband internet – but some of the money will undoubtedly be lost to fraud. How much is impossible to predict, but I believe a reasonable estimate based on past spending and research would put it at around 5%, or $150 billion. That’s equivalent to the gross domestic product of Ukraine.
I study the problem of fraud in public spending and what governments can do to fight it. Research shows there are measures that can effectively fight fraud in government spending, like increased government anti-fraud lawsuits.
Read more at The Conversation: https://theconversation.com/1-2t-infrastructure-plan-offers-lucrative-target-for-fraud-171453
Image courtesy: AP Photo/Steven Senne