scholarly journals The case for increased centralization in integration governance: the neglected perspective

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Vilde Hernes
Keyword(s):  
Service Provision ◽  
Local Governance ◽  
Local Autonomy ◽  
Policy Changes ◽  
Local Authorities ◽  
Future Studies ◽  
European Governance

AbstractLocal autonomy is a highly promoted feature in European governance, and the integration field is no exception. In the integration literature, values and considerations favoring local autonomy are often emphasized, while values and considerations underpinning central steering has received less analytical attention, thus a more nuanced perspective in studies of central–local governance relations is warranted. This commentary identifies general dilemmas in central–local governance which expose clear justifications for both local autonomy and central steering. Furthermore, it presents empirical examples of policy changes regulating central–local governance in the Scandinavian countries where increased centralization has been introduced with reference to promoting values and considerations favoring central steering, such as a fairer distribution of responsibilities between local authorities, legal safeguards for individuals, and equal service provision across the country. Lastly, it suggests how future studies of central–local governance could benefit from of taking a more nuanced perspective.

scholarly journals Comprehensive Community Initiatives: Addressing a ‘Problem’ in Local Governance or Creating One?

2002 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 195-217 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul Crawshaw ◽  
Donald Simpson
Keyword(s):  
Service Provision ◽  
Local Governance ◽  
Third Way ◽  
Community Initiatives ◽  
Welfare Services ◽  
Comprehensive Community Initiatives ◽  
Health Action

Pervaded by ‘third way’ values and identified as archetypal Comprehensive Community Initiatives (CCIs), programmes such as Education Action Zones (EAZs) and Health Action Zones (HAZs) follow a procedural rationale based on heterarchy and partnership. They are a response to an alleged prior fragmentation of service provision in welfare across sectors. Employing evidence from an evaluation of an EAZ and HAZ in one location, this article makes two claims. First, it is claimed that the extent of the alleged ?problem? of fragmentation across the governance of local social and welfare services prior to the introduction of these CCIs is contestable and was exaggerated for political purposes. Second, despite the application of CCIs in the form of EAZs and HAZs, it is claimed that a continuing problem of fragmentation across local governance of social and welfare services is evident. Several insights from the emerging theory of governance failure are employed to offer an explanation for why this situation has occurred.

Efectos y alcance de las medidas anticrisis en el ejercicio y desenvolvimiento de la autonomía local

2013 ◽  
pp. 17-52
Author(s):  
José Ignacio CUBERO MARCOS
Keyword(s):  
Public Expenditure ◽  
Public Affairs ◽  
Local Administration ◽  
Local Autonomy ◽  
Local Authorities ◽  
Legal Perspective

LABURPENA: Lan honetan Espainiako Gobernuak harturiko neurriek eragiten duten efektuak aztertzen dira ikuspegi juridikotik, toki autonomia garatu eta egikaritzean. Horrela zera analizatu da: zerbitzuen liberalizazioa aitortzen duten arauak, hornitzaileek eta kontratistek Toki Administrazioarekin duten zorrak ordaintzeko betebeharreko neurriak eta, azkenik, zein arazo eta auzi ekar lezakeen gastu publikoa murrizteak derrigorrezko zerbitzuak ematean eta auzotarren bizimoduetan eta haien eskubidea gai publikoetan parte hartzeko. Galdera komuna arazo horietan guztietan hauxe da: krisialdiari aurre egiteko neurriek toki autonomiari lotutako eskumen eremua murrizten dute? RESUMEN: En este trabajo se abordan las consecuencias que, desde una perspectiva jurídica, pueden producir en el desarrollo y ejercicio de la autonomía local algunas medidas adoptadas por el Gobierno español. Así, se han analizado las normas que amparan la liberalización de los servicios, las medidas que imponen el pago de las deudas contraídas por proveedores y contratistas con la Administración Local y, por último, los problemas que la contención del gasto puede ocasionar a la prestación de servicios obligatorios por parte de la Administración y su repercusión en la vida diaria de los vecinos y en su derecho a participar en los asuntos públicos. La pregunta común en todos ellos es la siguiente: ¿las medidas propuestas contra la crisis reducen el ámbito competencial propio de la autonomía local? ABSTRACT: In this article the consequences of the measures adopted by the Spanish Government are analyzed, from a legal perspective, in order to exercise and development the local autonomy principle. In that sense, it is examined rules that have recognized services liberalization, measures that impose the payment that Local Administration must carry out to contractors and providers. Finally, problems and controversies relative to the provision of obligatory services will be exposed, when authorities have decided to reduce public expenditure, and their effects in the citizens´ current life and their rights to decide in public affairs. The frequent question is the following one: Do the measures proposed against crisis limit therange of the local authorities’ competence?

scholarly journals Policy Goals of Federalism and Decentralization in Nepal

NUTA Journal ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 106-116
Author(s):  
Hari Prasad Adhikari
Keyword(s):  
Information System ◽  
Good Governance ◽  
Local Governance ◽  
Local People ◽  
Local Autonomy ◽  
Social Harmony ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Elite Group ◽  
Sound Communication ◽  
Policy Goals

This study, descriptive and analytical in nature, aims to assess the appropriate policy goals of federalism and decentralization focusing on providing local autonomy to meet the needs of local people, improving good governance, avoiding domination of elite group and promoting inclusive democracy, reducing ethnic and cultural conflict and promoting social harmony in Nepal. The data collected through questionnaire from 350 respondents was used for analysis. Federalism seemed to be an appropriate system that deals with providing local autonomy to meet the needs of local people. The findings from this study can provide information about policy goals of local governance in Nepal. It could be helpful to provide some special guidelines to the policy makers for improving local governance. In addition appropriate policy must be adapted and sound communication/information system would be developed.

Is a Self-help Orientation Sufficient Basis for Local [Economic] Development?

2017 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 151-166
Author(s):  
Eris D. Schoburgh
Keyword(s):  
Economic Development ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Local Economic Development ◽  
Local Governance ◽  
Local Development ◽  
Participatory Development ◽  
Economic Transformation ◽  
Reform Process ◽  
Governance Reform ◽  
Local Authorities

Local government reform in Jamaica aims (i) to refocus local authorities to providing leadership and a coordinating framework for the collective efforts of the people towards local development and (ii) to assess local service distribution modalities between central and local governments, the private sector and CSOs for more cost-effective arrangements. The institutional context in which these objectives are to be pursued is characterized by a new local governance framework populated by ‘a federated system of development committees’. Development committees are expected to work in partnership with local authorities in pursuit of economic transformation of geographic spaces. Participatory development that development committees exemplify conjures up images of ownership of local [economic] development projects and an empowered citizenry that has the capacity to direct resources in their favour. Development committees represent a differentiated method of local economic governance. But the concern is: Are development committees fit for purpose? This is the fundamental question with which this research is concerned. A survey of parish development committees (PDCs) was conducted to determine the extent to which the organizations are giving effect to their mandate. The study is exploratory in design and relies on qualitative methodologies. The results of the study will be important for assisting the local governance reform process currently underway in Jamaica but should contribute to the discourse on the alternative approaches to managing development in developing countries.

scholarly journals Performance Management as an Alternative Tool for Local Governance: Evidence from Ghanaian Local Government Sector

2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 188 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juliana Abagsonema Abane ◽  
Boon-Anan Phinaitrup
Keyword(s):  
Local Government ◽  
Performance Management ◽  
Local Governance ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Local Authorities ◽  
Performance Culture ◽  
Government Sector ◽  
Improvement Programs ◽  
Secondary Data Sources

The benefit of performance management is to have value for money and make local authorities more responsive to the needs of the grassroots. Therefore, the study addresses the perceived challenges which have been taken-for-granted in institutionalising performance culture at the local level in the context of sub-Sharan Africa. The purpose of this research is to investigate the progress and challenges affecting the institutionalisation of performance management in local government authorities to understand how these impediments impacts on performance culture in local governance. Using two major secondary data sources from Local Government Service, the study analyzes the contents of four key performance areas and the performance rating of local government authorities in Ghana . The study finds evidence to support that performance management may be an alternative tool to enhance the performance of local authorities. However , insufficient resource allocation, the absence of performance improvement programs and involvement of employees remains a challenge.

scholarly journals The Scottish scene

2002 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 84-86 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Loudon ◽  
Denise Coia
Keyword(s):  
Health Service ◽  
Service Provision ◽  
Local Authorities ◽  
Health Service Provision ◽  
High Expectations ◽  
Deputy Minister ◽  
Scottish Parliament ◽  
The Press ◽  
Scottish Executive

Health service provision now lies almost completely within the powers of the Scottish Parliament and accounts for 40% of the Executive's budget. There is a Minister and a Deputy Minister for Health. There are six key groups – the Scottish people, the Scottish Parliament, the Scottish Executive, the health service, the local authorities and the press, all with high expectations that things should get better.

Policy Shaped under Pressure: Internationalization, Decentralization, and Policy Adoption of Local Governments

2019 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 343-368
Author(s):  
Nara Park ◽  
Young Ho Eom
Keyword(s):  
Local Governments ◽  
Event History Analysis ◽  
Central Government ◽  
Government Intervention ◽  
Local Governance ◽  
Event History ◽  
Policy Adoption ◽  
Local Autonomy ◽  
History Analysis ◽  
Multiple Pressures

What leads local governments to adopt a particular policy? This article examines the diffusion of internationalization ordinances enacted by Korean local governments from 1989 to 2016. Since decentralization in 1995, Korean local governments have become autonomous actors that can introduce policies of their own. Employing event history analysis, this study reveals that, in adopting internationalization ordinances, Korean local governments face multiple pressures, including central government intervention, the behavior of other local governments, and their own capacity and policy requirements. Policymaking that is directed by the central government, however, is characterized by weaker effects and a shorter lifespan. Local autonomy is key to successful local governance in a decentralized regime.

Civic pride and redevelopment in the post-war British city

Urban History ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 39 (2) ◽  
pp. 310-328 ◽  
Author(s):  
PETER SHAPELY
Keyword(s):  
Urban Development ◽  
Local Governance ◽  
Development Projects ◽  
Local Authorities ◽  
Symbolic Form ◽  
Civic Pride ◽  
Development Plans ◽  
Post War

ABSTRACT:This article is concerned with civic pride in post-war urban Britain. While many of the development projects during 1945–79 proved to be design failures, suggesting the demise of civic pride, the ambitions of local authorities, planners and developers have largely been ignored or dismissed. Nevertheless, the development plans which emerged during this period reveal a desire to rebuild new, modern and vibrant cities. Moreover, the planning and financing of these new projects highlights the structure of local governance in post-war Britain, with a shift towards new partnerships consisting of the council, the technocrat and the developer. As such, civic pride continued to be evident in the post-war period, both as an aspiration for urban development and as a symbolic form of power.

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