It appears that I was not the first to discover that Israel has a serious planning and building permitting problem
."A significant part of the corruptions surrounding planning and building in Israel is due to the prolonged and convoluted procedures in this area, and the many obstacles put in the way of citizens and developers," said Netanyahu. "As a result, over the years, dealmakers have held sway, trying to bribe clerks and public officials. In order to reduce this corruption, it is very important to remove the bureaucratic barriers and to shorten and streamline planning and building procedures."The fact is that the reform is not advancing. The rotten system that has developed over the years is too well entrenched.
7 comments:
Very few if any opportunities to shake people down go unexploited.
Anon.
A honest bureaucrat is one that takes the correct amount and delivers the permit. In my opinion, Chinese mandarinate aka the Communist Party is very honest and transparent. We should learn from them.
Oh no, China is very corrupt. The corruption is just done efficiently - you make the right people your partners and you get the permits right away - it doesn't take 7 years.
K
K
Chinese corruption is reliable, well understood, transparent, allowing business to be done. It is fanatical unearthly puritanism and working by the rules that kills business and all economic activity.
Heard a radio piece last night about a Chinese billionaire - he had started as a street vendor and grew to have China's largest chain of appliance stores. Now he is in jail accused of insider trading or somesuch trumped up charge. In order to succeed in business in China it is necessary to have a "rebbe" inside the government/Party (one and the same) - some high official who will promote your career and protect you. If your rebbe withdraws his protection (either he no longer has the power or he has decided he doesn't like/need you any more or there is too much pressure on him or whatever) then next thing you know you are in a jail cell.
K
As I re-read what I typed I realize that what I wrote also more or less describes the situation in Israel, except everything proceeds much faster in China.
I also saw this quote in a JTA article:
"Netanyahu wants to cut the red tape by canceling the regional committee stage, leaving decisions in the hands of a small municipal body. He argues that this will lead to far more building starts and reduce the cost of housing. Critics say it could lead to even more bribery and corruption because the regulatory process will be weakened."
http://www.jta.org/news/article/2010/04/19/1011647/new-corruption-scandal-dooms-chances-of-olmert-comeback
The "critics" (meaning the author of the article herself) have it precisely backward - the stronger the regime of the License Raj, the MORE bribery and corruption exists because there is no other way to get past the gatekeepers. If the gates of the city are open, then there is no point in bribing the guards to let you in. Additional levels of fortifications (e.g. regional committees) only mean that there are more levels that have to be bribed.
K
The current situation is unbearable. The main entrance road to Kever Banjamin was closed for two years because the inmates of an old-age home near the road protested against the noise the road would cause. In the end, a tunnel was built to reduce the noise. The tunnel get flooded each winter, isolating the city for hours. Anybody can stop any large public project by filing a complaint. Some complaints cannot be resolved, like the public opposition to antennas and electric lines.
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