This book represents the most comprehensive exploration of corruption in U.S. municipal governments written to date.

Exploring the 30-year time period from 1990 to 2020 and including all U.S. municipalities with populations of 10,000 people or more, Municipal Corruption: From Policies to People uses both quantitative research and case study analysis to answer the question of why some municipalities fall victim to corrupt acts, while others do not. It tells the stories of a number of communities that suffered through public corruption, investigating factors that contribute to a greater risk of corruption in municipalities, and identifying steps to prevent corruption in communities—including strengthening resident interest and involvement in local affairs, offsetting the decline in local journalism, and reinforcing scrutiny by state governments.

Municipal Corruption is ideal supplemental reading for courses on ethics, public affairs, local government, and urban affairs, and it will be immeasurably useful to municipalities considering how to better insulate themselves and their constituents from corrupt acts.