For strategic, operational, and financial reasons, asset management is becoming an increasingly important area of decision-making for municipal governments. New demands for better service provision, trends towards decentralized systems of public sector management in emerging economies, potential synergies, and changing roles in the public and private sectors in many countries are creating the need for better management and accountability of municipal resources. Open and effective management and reporting of public property resources is an important aspect of public trust. In many countries, however, there has been significant concern about actual and potential misuse, abuse, or corruption especially related to misappropriation and disposal of public property (for private gain).