The Case for a Zero Gift Policy

Abstract

Public administrators must respond to the loss of public confidence in government. In order to regain trust, the current standards must be raised. One such standard concerns the gift policy for administrators; the city of Houston has implemented a zero gift policy. It seeks to set the clear standard that officials should not receive goods or services for doing their job. With the implementation of a zero gift policy, citizens have evidence that administrators cannot be influenced in the course of their work.