Getting the Full Picture on Public Officials : A How-to Guide for Effective Financial Disclosure

Cover -- Half Title -- Title -- Copyright -- Contents -- Foreword -- Acknowledgments -- About the Authors -- Abbreviations -- Glossary -- Introduction -- Notes -- References -- 1. Why Do Countries Embark on Financial Disclosure? -- Global and Regional Trends Observed in the Adoption of Disclosure Systems -- What Are the Objectives of a Disclosure System? -- Illicit Wealth Focus -- Conflict of Interest Focus -- Legal Foundations of Disclosure Systems -- Domestic Legal Foundations -- International Conventions and Other Instruments -- Expectations: The Nonlegal Key to Successful Objectives -- Notes -- References -- 2. Who Should File a Disclosure? How Often? -- Who Should File a Disclosure? -- Targeted Categories of Officials -- Put a Name to It: Creating and Updating a List of Filers -- Size Matters -- Family Members -- How Often Should Filers Declare? -- Notes -- References -- 3. What to Declare? -- What Makes a Disclosure Form Strong or Weak? -- What Categories of Information Are Included in Financial Disclosure Forms? -- Personal Identification Information -- Declaring Immovable and Movable Assets -- Declaring Income -- Declaring Securities -- Declaring Business Relationships with Financial Institutions (Bank Accounts) -- Declaring Liabilities -- Declaring Cash -- Declaring Interests -- Declaring Gifts -- Beneficial Ownership -- Notes -- References -- 4. The Submission Process -- Key Elements of the Submission Process -- The Register of Filers -- Communication with the Filer -- Completing and Submitting the Form -- Ensuring Compliance and Quality Control -- Data Collection and Management -- Analysis and Reporting -- Electronic versus Paper-Based Submission -- Challenges in Transitioning to Electronic-Based Submission -- Notes -- Reference -- 5. Verification of Information -- Objectives of Verification -- Verification Methodology