Malawi anti-corruption drive faces multiple obstacles

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Public Service ◽  
Government Spending ◽  
Service Provision ◽  
Health Sector ◽  
Financial Assistance ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Debt Burden ◽  
High Government ◽  
International Donors ◽  
Multiple Obstacles

Significance The initial refusal of MPs to approve Martha Chizuma was widely seen as an attempt to protect themselves against a fervent anti-corruption campaigner. However, a public outcry forced the committee to revisit the finding. Impacts Widespread corruption will undermine efforts to strengthen the health sector and enhance public service provision. High government spending amid depressed tourism revenues is likely to increase Malawi’s uncomfortable debt burden. Evidence of continued corruption will deter international donors from providing much-needed financial assistance to the new government.

Better US ties are a short-term boost for Syrian Kurds

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Service Provision ◽  
Financial Assistance ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Economic Problems ◽  
Iraqi Kurdistan ◽  
Tribal Populations

Significance The Kurdish administration is seeking to maximise benefits from much-improved relations with US President Joe Biden, compared with his predecessor. However, economic pressures are also rising. Impacts The SDF will be excluded from official Syria peace talks, but these are in any case unlikely to make progress. The AANES will focus on service provision as a means to placate discontented Arab tribal populations. Washington could step up financial assistance to help stabilise the situation in the northeast. Economic problems will boost emigration, to Iraqi Kurdistan or ultimately to Europe. Biden will try to keep the ongoing troop presence in Syria low-key in a domestic context.

scholarly journals An empirical study on application and efficiency of gridded management in public service supply of Chinese Government

2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 2-15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bai XiuYin ◽  
Muhammad Imran Hanif ◽  
Li Fensheng ◽  
Muhammad Shehzad Hanif ◽  
Gu Yinhua
Keyword(s):  
Public Service ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Service Provision ◽  
Operation Mode ◽  
Chinese Government ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Public ◽  
Public Service Provision ◽  
The Government ◽  
Urban And Rural Areas

Purpose Gridded management in the public service supply is still in the experience exploratory stage, and this paper aims to analyze the inherent logic and operation mode of the gridding mechanism of the public supply based on the existing theory study and practices, and verify its efficiency so as to come to the conclusion whether it could be promoted to a wider range. Design/methodology/approach The methodology applied in this paper was case study/deductive induction. Findings The grid model in the public service supply needs to be demonstrated completely in theoretical logic and operation principles before it is promoted across the country. Meanwhile, full support of the government is required in terms of service concept, function distribution, technical parameters and infrastructure. Research limitations/implications The inherent logic and operation mode of the gridding mechanism of the public service supply needs enough practice tests. The practical test of efficiency analysis of the gridding mechanism of the public service supply is not enough. Social implications This paper validated whether the gridding mechanism that originated from China’s urban management can be promoted to all over the country in the public service supply. It provides references for government policy. Originality/value This paper constructs a gridded management model for public service provision in urban and rural areas on the basis of an analysis of the plight of traditional model of public service provision, thus delivering the same standard of public service for both urban and rural areas through optimization of resource allocation without requiring more supply and fundamental change to the content of service.

scholarly journals Collaborative public service provision archetypes in healthcare emergencies: a case of COVID-19 administration in Sri Lanka

2022 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kelum Jayasinghe ◽  
Chandana Wijesinghe ◽  
Chaminda Wijethilake ◽  
Raj Prasanna
Keyword(s):  
Public Service ◽  
Narrative Analysis ◽  
Service Provision ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Incident Command ◽  
Public Service Provision ◽  
Organisational Values ◽  
The Government

PurposeThis paper examines how the properties and patterns of a collaborative “networked hierarchy” incident command system (ICS) archetype can provide incident command centres with extra capabilities to manage public service delivery during COVID-19.Design/methodology/approachThe paper illustrates the case of Sri Lanka's COVID-19 administration during its “first wave” (from 15 February to 1 September 2020). Primary data were collected through in-depth interviews with government officials who were directly involved in the administration of the COVID-19 outbreak. Secondary data sources were government publications and web sources. The data were analysed and interpreted by using narrative analysis and archetype theory respectively.FindingsThe findings highlight how Sri Lanka's public sector responses to COVID-19 have followed a collaborative “networked hierarchy” ICS archetype. More specifically, the government changed its normative ICS “properties” by incorporating a diverse group of intergovernmental agencies such as the police, the military, the health service and administrative services by articulating new patterns of collaborative working, namely, organisational values, beliefs and ideas that fit with the Sri Lankan public service context.Originality/valueIn responding to high magnitude healthcare emergencies, the flexibility of a collaborative networked ICS hierarchy enables different balances of organisational properties to be incorporated, such as hierarchy and horizontal networking and “patterns” in public service provision.

Ending endo risks Philippine labour and employer anger

2016 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Public Service ◽  
Service Provision ◽  
Government Employees ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Contract Workers ◽  
Public Service Provision ◽  
The Government

Significance Endo is a colloquial expression meaning end-of-contract and refers to the practice of hiring and re-hiring workers on contracts lasting less than six months, the period after which companies must take on contract workers as employees. President Rodrigo Duterte's administration has promised to halve the number of Philippine workers employed on endo contracts by end-2016, and to eliminate the practice entirely by end-2017. Impacts Changing endo could affect government employees and public service provision. Delayed or minimal labour reform could see union-led, anti-government demonstrations. The government could face legal actions by employers and employer groups. Endo could see policy friction between DOLE (supporting workers) and the trade and industry department (supporting investment).

Poultry farmers willingness to pay for agricultural tax: evidence from the Bono region, Ghana

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholas Oppong Mensah ◽  
Ernest Christlieb Amrago ◽  
Jeffery Kofi Asare ◽  
Frank Osei Tutu ◽  
Anthony Donkor
Keyword(s):  
Willingness To Pay ◽  
Public Service ◽  
Service Provision ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Tax Rates ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Average Maximum ◽  
Coefficient Of Concordance ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Poultry Farmers

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the poultry farmer's willingness to pay for agricultural tax in the Dormaa Municipality of Ghana. Besides, the study analysed the mean agricultural tax and constraints impeding the payment of the agricultural tax.Design/methodology/approachOne hundred (100) poultry farmers were selected for the study. The logit and Kendall’s coefficient of concordance were used to examine the factors that influence payment of agricultural tax and the constraints impeding the payment of the agricultural tax, respectively.FindingsInstructively, 83% of the respondents were interested in the regressive taxation model relative to 12 and 5% who were interested in the proportional and progressive taxation model, respectively. The empirical results of the logit model revealed that tax awareness, probability of being audited and public service provision of roads influenced the poultry farmer's decision to pay for the agricultural tax. Perception of corruption and high tax rates were the primary constraints impeding the payment of the agricultural tax. The results further revealed that the farmers are willing to pay an average maximum amount of Ghc 152.00 (US 26 dollars) agricultural tax per month.Originality/valueDespite the increasing relevance of agricultural tax, studies on poultry farmer's willingness to pay agricultural tax have been scarce in West Africa, particularly, Ghana. As a consequence, this paper broadens the frontiers of the existing literature on agricultural tax as well as the constraints impeding the poultry farmers to pay agricultural tax.

Islamic State government will endure in Iraq, Syria

2015 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
State Government ◽  
Public Service ◽  
Service Provision ◽  
Economic Resources ◽  
Islamic State ◽  
Law And Order ◽  
Minimum Level ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Public Service Provision ◽  
State Group

Subject The ideological and strategic priorities for the so-called Islamic State. Significance Achieving and preserving statehood, of which governance is a critical component, are ideological and strategic priorities for Islamic State group (ISG). It has shown some governance capabilities in its self-declared 'caliphate', establishing extensive government systems in particular in Raqqa in Syria and Mosul in Iraq, and in towns such as Deir al-Zour and Ramadi. However, the demands of governing a territory of 8 million people, providing it with a minimum level of public services and law and order, present weaknesses that the international coalition is seeking to exploit. Impacts ISG government has stronger prospects in Syria than Iraq, where it faces greater military and economic challenges Reduced economic resources will lead to a further decline in public service provision in ISG-controlled areas. The destruction of ISG government will require ground forces that can provide credible alternative government.

Third term bid will cloud Zambian funding prospects

2017 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Civil Society ◽  
Presidential Elections ◽  
The United States ◽  
Financial Assistance ◽  
Considerable Progress ◽  
Economic Recovery ◽  
Economic Decline ◽  
Content Type ◽  
International Donors

Significance A recent IMF mission reported considerable progress towards agreement on a proposed 1.2-billion-dollar rescue package. However, the increasingly authoritarian bent of the Patriotic Front (PF) government is complicating prospects for wider financial assistance. International donors are wary of supporting President Edgar Lungu who stands accused of rigging the 2016 presidential elections, undermining civil society, and interfering with the judiciary to secure a controversial third, five-year term in office. Impacts Without a comprehensive economic recovery plan in place shortly, ratings agency downgrades could take place later this year. The removal of popular subsidies on food and electricity is likely to trigger popular protest and result in opposition gains. Rising demand for copper in the United States and China may result in a spike in prices, alleviating economic decline.

Private-public interaction in public service innovation processes- business model challenges for a start-up EdTech firm

2019 ◽  
Vol 34 (5) ◽  
pp. 1106-1118 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lars-Gunnar Mattsson ◽  
Per Andersson
Keyword(s):  
Business Model ◽  
Public Service ◽  
Service Provision ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Service Innovation ◽  
Analytical Framework ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Business Modeling ◽  
Start Up ◽  
Innovation Processes

PurposeContemporary public service innovations to an important degree are initiated and enabled by digitalization. Digitalization stimulates entry of new firms (start-ups) based on innovative implementation of digital technology for public services. The interwoven digitalization and innovation processes involve interaction and interdependencies between private business actors and public service providing actors. In this paper, the authors take the perspective of a start-up business actor that tries to develop and implement a viable business model in the very dynamic context of digital transformation of public education. The purpose of this paper is to analyze how the instability of a startup firm’s business model during public service innovation can be explained. The research question is: “How can business modeling by a start-up firm be explained by tensions between its business model and public service provision models?”Design/methodology/approachBased on an abductive logic, the authors choose a single-case study of a start-up firm’s development in 2010-2018 and its interaction with public actors. Information about the firm acquired in the first phase of the study showed that it frequently changed its business model. A general analytical framework was developed to aid in efforts to answer the research question.FindingsThe case showed that a business model could be seen as a temporary outcome of a business modeling process, and that also concurrently public actors change their public actors’ service provisioning models. Public-private interaction reveals tensions that drive business modeling.Originality/valueThe study contributes to empirical knowledge about private-public interaction in the dynamic and complex context in which digital transformation in society drives public service innovations. The conceptual contribution rests more generally in the analytical framework and how it frames public actor’s “service provision modeling” as a driver of business modeling.

PCCs, neo-liberal hegemony and democratic policing

2014 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 13-21 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liz Turner
Keyword(s):  
Public Service ◽  
Service Provision ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Positive Contribution ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Academic Literature ◽  
Democratic Policing ◽  
Police Accountability ◽  
Central Argument ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose – This paper aims to explore the recent introduction of directly elected police and crime commissioners (PCCs) in England and Wales, and to consider to what extent this new innovation should be considered as a positive contribution to the achievement of democratic policing. Design/methodology/approach – The paper draws on a range of key sources of academic literature on police accountability and the sociology of policing, as well as considering the content of government pronouncements and legislation. Findings – The central argument of the paper is that the introduction of PCCs needs to be examined within the context of the hegemony of neo-liberal logic in public services reform. It is argued that some enduring myths of policing, including the myth that the police impartially uphold an impartial law, lend themselves to the depoliticisation of policing which is necessary in order to facilitate neo-liberal colonisation of the service, which is inimical to democratic policing. Originality/value – The paper builds upon and contests some of the early critiques of the introduction of PCCs which have emerged and proposes a new direction for the development of critique in this area. It will be of interest to policing scholars as well as anyone concerned about the relationship between democracy and policing under current conditions of deep public service cuts and the colonisation of service provision by neo-liberal values.

Basic public services and the restructuring of the public finance system in China

2016 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 438-453 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guangjian Xu ◽  
Yan Wu
Keyword(s):  
Public Finance ◽  
Public Service ◽  
Service Provision ◽  
Public Services ◽  
Historical Analysis ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Finance System ◽  
Functional Changes ◽  
The Public ◽  
Public Service Provision

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the financing and provision of basic public services in China. The main issue addressed is how to reform the public finance system to achieve quality and fairness in the provision of basic public services. Design/methodology/approach Based on an historical analysis of the functional transformation of the public finance system in China and on an empirical analysis of the current public finance system and the public service provision system, a comprehensive understanding was gained about the relationship between the financing and provision of basic public services. Findings The paper argues that there is a close relationship between the provision of basic public services and the functional changes made to the public finance system. Based on a systematic retrospective study of the Chinese Government’s efforts to improve basic public services over the last three decades, this paper offers policy suggestions on further public finance restructuring that would support better service provision. Originality/value By analyzing issues in the public service provision system, this paper contributes to the debate about the efficiency improvement made to governmental functions in China.

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