Improving Road Administration in the Asia-Pacific Region: Some Lessons from Experience

Abstract

Asia-Pacific countries are increasingly working to improve the management of their social and economic resources for development. Although the ADB (1995, pp. 1–7) recognizes a diversity of political systems and institutional cultures in the region, the ADB defines four aspects of sound governance relevant for all countries:

• 1. accountability (officials answerable to the entity from which they derive their authority, that work has been conducted according to agreed rules and standards, and reported fairly and accurately);

• 2. participation (allowing public employees a role in decision making; empowering citizens, and especially the poor, by promoting their rights to access and secure control over basic entitlements that allow them to earn a living);

• 3. predictability (fair and consistent application of laws, regulations and policies); and

• 4. transparency (low cost, understandable, and relevant information made available to citizens to promote effective accountability, and clarity about laws, regulations and policies).

This is a personal view, and not necessarily the view of the Asian Development Bank.