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By changing the formal “rules of the game”, public policies determine to a large extent the distribution of costs and benefits in an economy. Tax exceptions, subsidies, private sector participation in government services, emission standards, public health policies and education grant programmes (to name a few) directly influence who gets what. Having a say in the design of these formal rules of the game is therefore of great interest to all parties.
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This chapter clarifies the concept of policy capture, particularly in relation to corruption and lobbying. It reviews the detrimental consequences of capture, and emphasises its impact on perpetuating and aggravating inequalities, failing to achieve policy goals, and eroding public trust and government legitimacy.
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This chapter explains capture of public decision-making processes in more detail. It describes the main features of policy capture, the mechanisms through which it can be achieved, and the actors typically involved. The chapter closes with an overview of the main risk factors. This generic risk map is intended to provide guidance to policy makers in diagnosing capture risks.
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This chapter provides guidance on mitigating risks of public decisions being captured. It highlights the relevance of a coherent and comprehensive approach to fostering a culture of integrity and accountability in public decision-making, and proposes four complementary strategies for mitigating capture risks: 1) ensuring decision-making processes that promote inclusiveness and social accountability; 2) fostering transparency and access to information; 3) enabling the external accountability of decision-makers through supreme audit institutions and regulatory enforcement agencies; and 4) addressing capture risks through integrity measures at the organisational level.