Accountability Theme this Year

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Originally uploaded by ICGFM

The ICGFM conference begins later this morning at the Marriott Biscayne Bay in Miami Florida. The conference kicks off with a keynote address by Roberto Tarallo from the World Bank about public expenditure and financial accountability. This is an important subject for all governments and all levels of government.

The headline from this mornings USA Today was “Bill for taxpayers swell by trillions. Deficit far bigger than government estimate.” The article points out that the American Federal Government does not account for the long-term liabilities for obligations such as medicare and social security. USA Today has been providing estimates of these obligations since 2004.

This year’s conference explores the role of external sources of accountability including the press, the private sector and citizens.