PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to understand the role of ethical leadership and ethical culture as a safeguard against corruption.Design/methodology/approachUsing survey data from public managers in local authorities in The Netherlands, Serbia, Montenegro and the USA in a comparative study.FindingsThe USA and The Netherlands, generally, display higher levels of organizational integrity than Montenegro and Serbia. Second, the strongest effects of ethical leadership were found in Montenegro. Third, in all four countries a rule‐based approach to ethics dominated.Research limitations/implicationsIt is difficult to determine the extent to which survey participants felt free to express their true opinions. Different social values need to be included as part of any comparative analysis.Practical implicationsThe role of ethical leadership is crucial; the importance of laws and rules underpinning ethical conduct cannot be underestimated.Originality/valueThe paper contributes to the growing interest in comparative studies.

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Complementary and competing values of political, legal and public interest issues define administrative ethical decision-making in public organizations. Organizational values create an ethical climate that prescribes acceptable ethical norms of behavior. The relationship between technology and administrative governance can influence and shift organizational values that affect the ethical climate in public organizations. This theoretical inquiry considers how web based and Internet technology can result in value shifts in power distribution, social equity and persuasiveness of citizens as government web sites are forged. Discussions of these value shifts suggest ethical considerations in decisions by public managers that focus on building an ethical climate to support democratic governance goals.

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Market economy and democratic evolution in public policy requires a shift from a comprehensive rational and positivism approach to including normative considerations through a social participatory thesis. The key question of this chapter's examination is: Do the fundamental ideas of econometric evaluation of land value as a basis for public policy contribute worth for the society as a whole? Policy that exploits market mechanisms cannot be developed in isolation of the larger societal needs that are required to enrich democracy. To do this, the authors provide an econometric model of valuation of land to test and predict policy outcomes to enhance democratic transition. Establishing market value is a tool that supports policy economic development goals and normative outcomes desired through political transparency in the emergence to democratic processes. The authors conclude with recommendations for implementation to support stakeholders in the policymaking process.