Sociological analysis of the factors influencing citizens' attitudes to local governments in Ukraine

2021 ◽  
pp. 105-115
Author(s):  
OLGA BUROVA
Keyword(s):  
Local Governments ◽  
Voting Behavior ◽  
Public Services ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Local Administration ◽  
Local Authorities ◽  
Local Public Services ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Ukrainian Society

The paper focuses on the main factors forming public attitudes towards local authorities in Ukraine. The way that a person thinks and feels about a particular politician, an elected official or a local administration largely determines his/her voting behavior ― hence the relevance of the research topic. Local governments are responsible for delivering a wide range of services to citizens; therefore, it makes sense to analyze the citizens’ satisfaction with the quality of (and access to) certain services and compare these figures with the overall attitude to local authorities (which can correspond to a respondent’s evaluation of the authorities’ work in general). The findings of a recent (September–October 2020) nationwide survey titled “Ukrainian society: Monitoring social changes” will constitute an empirical basis for the analysis. The survey, which is annually conducted by the Institute of Sociology of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, involves measuring respondents’ satisfaction with a number of items related to the performance of local governments (with regard to the respondent’s place of residence). These items include utility service quality, road conditions, the availability of playgrounds and sports facilities, the work of a local police department, the availability and quality of services provided by preschools and schools, the quality of healthcare services, etc., as well the ability of local authorities to respond to the demands of ordinary citizens. The survey participants are also asked to evaluate the work of a local administration or a city/town mayor. The data of “Ukrainian society” for the year 2020 show that the majority of this country’s population felt totally or partially dissatisfied with local public services (except for those offered by preschools and schools), and they did not consider local governments responsive to people’s demands either. Besides, many respondents gave a negative evaluation to the overall work of local administrations. Drawing upon these data, the author concludes that there is a link between a person’s satisfaction or dissatisfaction with the quality of local public services and his/her positive or negative attitude towards the local authorities. It is suggested that the obtained results be taken into account when analyzing other aspects concerning local governments (e. g. a respondent’s trust in governmental institutions), especially if the respondent is not inclined to express his/her opinion openly. Special attention is also given to resident surveys as a tool for improving the well-being and quality of life for citizens and communities.

scholarly journals Modernization of the system for providing governmental services of local authorities in Ukraine in the context of decentralization reform

2018 ◽  
pp. 94-101
Author(s):  
Svitlana Kucherenko ◽  
Viacheslav Riznyk
Keyword(s):  
Research Methods ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Public Services ◽  
Voluntary Association ◽  
Quality Of Services ◽  
Local Authorities ◽  
Administrative Services ◽  
Electronic Service ◽  
Laws And Regulations

The subject of research is the process of modernization of the system of provision of state services of local authorities in Ukraine. The purpose of the article is to clarify the current level of public service provision by local authorities and to develop ways to improve the functioning system of administrative services in the united territorial communities of Ukraine. The aim of the article are: to examine the essence of decentralization and reveal the mechanism of functioning of the united territorial communities; reveal the content of the extended powers of local governments; explore the conceptual framework of state incentives for the process of voluntary association of communities in Ukraine; to identify the real degree of quality, availability and approach of management services to the population through the network of centers providing administrative services; reveal the problems of coexistence and duplication of functions of the district and society; explore promising areas of municipal cooperation and identify the leading regions; consider the functions of the Ukrainian electronic service iGov and justify the problems and prospects for its implementation in the process of public services of local authorities in Ukraine modernization. Research methods. In the process of research, the following general and specific scientific research methods were applied: a systematic approach, methods of logical generalization and comparison, scientific abstraction, methods of synthesis, logical generalization and analogies. The methodological base of the research was made by scientific works of domestic and foreign scientists and leading specialists, analytical materials on the research problem. Results of the work. The essence of decentralization and the mechanism of functioning of united territorial communities are revealed. Analyzed changes in the powers of local governments and highlighted the mechanism for the provision of administrative services. The directions of state stimulation of the process of voluntary association of communities in Ukraine are investigated. It was revealed that in spite of the fact that the united communities received the authority and resource of the population are partially or completely dissatisfied with the quality of services provided by local authorities. The problem of duplication of functions of structural divisions is revealed - a district-united community. The necessity of the development and adoption of effective by-laws and regulations has been substantiated, and they regulate the procedure for the application and implementation of existing laws in the field of decentralization and self-government. The prospective directions of municipal cooperation are investigated and it is revealed that Poltava region is the leader in Ukraine in the number of concluded inter-municipal cooperation agreements. Analyzed international technical assistance projects aimed at reforming self-government. The Ukrainian electronic service iGov and the reasonable prospects of its widespread implementation have been investigated. Practical implications. The results of the study can be used by both local and state authorities to consider the possibilities of modernization of public services in Ukraine in the context of decentralization reforms. Conclusions.  The study led to the conclusion that today the population is partially or completely dissatisfied with the quality of services provided by local authorities. However, we believe that Ukraine is able to modernize state services of local authorities and bring them as close as possible to citizens. To improve the functioning of the system of providing administrative services in the united territorial communities of Ukraine, in our opinion, it is necessary: to develop effective by-laws and regulations that regulate the procedure for applying and implementing laws on local self-government; ensure the organizational unity of the front office and back office of the centers providing administrative services of the united territorial communities; to expand the list of administrative services provided to residents of united territorial communities; provide state support for expanding the network of united territorial communities to cover the entire territory of Ukraine; develop and implement educational programs for certain categories of civil servants and officials of local governments in the provision of administrative services; to ensure the widespread introduction and use in the regions of the electronic portal of state services iGov, which will make it possible to effectively combat corruption and improve business processes in state and municipal authorities.

scholarly journals Does PAPI monitoring improve local governance? Evidence from a natural experiment in Vietnam

2017 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 85-106 ◽  
Author(s):  
Long Giang ◽  
Cuong Nguyen ◽  
Anh Tran
Keyword(s):  
Natural Experiment ◽  
Public Services ◽  
Local Governance ◽  
Local Authorities ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Local Decision ◽  
Quality Of Governance ◽  
The Impact

Purpose The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of monitoring local authorities on the quality of governance and public services reported by citizens in Vietnam, using the Vietnam Governance and Public Administration Performance Index (PAPI) surveys. Design/methodology/approach PAPI randomly selected 200 locations in 93 districts of 30 provinces to conduct its survey in 2010, and subsequently rolled out the survey nationally in 2011 and 2012. Using 2011 and 2012 survey data, the authors compare the quality of governance and public services reported in provinces and districts that were covered in the 2011 PAPI survey with those that were not surveyed in 2010. Theories suggest that local authorities may improve their behavior if they have been surveyed and are, thus, aware that they are being monitored, leading to higher quality governance. Findings In this paper, the authors find that governance quality reported in later years by citizens in the surveyed provinces and districts of the 2010 PAPI survey was significantly higher than the quality reported by citizens in locations that were not surveyed in 2010. Monitoring appears to improve a wide range of governance aspects, including local participation in village decisions, transparency of local decision-making, accountability, administrative procedures and public service delivery. Originality/value The main innovation of this study is to use a randomized survey on governance as a natural experiment to measure the impact of monitoring on the quality of governance and public services, as reported by citizens.

scholarly journals Citizen satisfaction with municipal services: The case of Konya

2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 24-33
Author(s):  
Erhan Örselli ◽  
Erdal Bayrakçı ◽  
Selcuk Kahraman
Keyword(s):  
Service Quality ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Public Services ◽  
Municipal Services ◽  
Citizen Satisfaction ◽  
The Public ◽  
Local Public Services ◽  
Local Services ◽  
And Performance

  Abstract Local governments, which are the closest units to people in terms of providing services, pay special attention to such issues as life and service quality, citizen satisfaction, meeting demands and expectations of citizens while making future plans and evaluating how successful they are in the public eye. The level of citizen satisfaction, citizens’ experiences and perceptions about local services and their ideas about the legitimacy, credibility and performance of Mayor affect the success of local governments, particularly municipalities, in a positive or a negative way. This study aims to develop “a citizen report” about the local services in Konya by identifying how satisfied people are with the quality of the local public services provided by Konya Municipality. Keywords: Local public services, service quality, citizen satisfaction, citizen report.  

POSITIONING OF THE REGION ON THE PRINCIPLES OF BRAND FORMATION

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liudmyla Danyluk ◽  
◽  
Keyword(s):  
Local Governments ◽  
Health Management ◽  
Geographical Location ◽  
Strategic Plan ◽  
Rapid Decline ◽  
Competitive Advantages ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Brand Promotion

The process of positioning a region is one of the most important tools for attracting investment to a territory. In turn, the methods of work of the human health management system, contributing to the improvement of the quality of life of the population. However, effective tools for positioning the region, which take into account the geographical location, recreational conditions of the territory, the available opportunities, its cultural, national and ethnic identification, as well as differences, have not yet been proposed. This is evidenced by the low level of investment in the regions, the weak development of the real sector of the territory's economy, the rapid decline in the living standards of most of the region's residents, and, as a consequence, the growth in the rate of population migration. Thus, the formation of tools for positioning and identification of the region, which allows you to determine their competitive advantages, is a basic prerequisite for ensuring the economic development of the territory. In modern conditions of the transfer of powers and budgets of state bodies to local governments, the positioning of the region becomes a possible condition for their competitiveness. The article discusses the interpretation of the concept of "positioning", in particular, two of its basic components are highlighted: positioning as a strategy, positioning as a set of actions. Approaches to the positioning of the brand of the region are analyzed, where the region is considered from the position of a unique phenomenon and a complex product with a wide range of properties. The signs of a successful brand are determined, the main goals of branding, assessment, classification of models and stages of positioning the region are highlighted. and also: diagnosis of the situation, formulation of the essence of the brand, a strategic plan for brand promotion. implementation of the strategic plan, assessment of the effectiveness of the formed brand.

Commercialization of Local Public Services

2016 ◽  
pp. 132-150
Author(s):  
Beatriz Cuadrado-Ballesteros ◽  
Isabel María García-Sánchez ◽  
Jennifer Martínez-Ferrero
Keyword(s):  
Local Governments ◽  
Public Services ◽  
Left Wing ◽  
Fiscal Illusion ◽  
The Public ◽  
Local Public Services ◽  
Services Delivery ◽  
Legal Limits ◽  
Fiscal Pressure ◽  
Public Revenues

The most important reason to decentralise the public services delivery is to make the citizens' needs better known by the local governments, so it follows to act more efficiently to their satisfaction. Nonetheless it has been found an opportunistic use of these agencies to avoid legal limits on indebtedness imposed on sub-national administrations, generating fiscal illusion. Accordingly, the aim of this study is to analyse the effect of the functional decentralisation processes on public revenues and financing. The results show that the use of decentralisation process, especially companies are created by left-wing political parties in order to raise more income from commercialization of public services. It was also found that these practices are strongly linked to the municipality's fiscal pressure.

Towards Digital Governance in UK Local Public Services?

2009 ◽  
pp. 122-136
Author(s):  
Ian McLoughlin
Keyword(s):  
United Kingdom ◽  
Smart Card ◽  
Public Services ◽  
City Council ◽  
New Era ◽  
Local Public Services ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
Digital Governance ◽  
The Relationship

In the United Kingdom, major investments have been made in e-government in order to modernize government and improve the efficiency and quality of public services. It has been claimed that these changes herald a “new era of digital governance”. The management of the vast majority of public services in the United Kingdom takes place at local and regional levels and provision at this level has a key role in “joining-up services” through greater information sharing and multi-agency working. This chapter examines these developments with reference to a study of the procurement of a software system by a city council, an experiment in multi-agency working to provide services to children, and the introduction of a regional smart card. It is argued that if such innovations are to have outcomes consistent with the claims of the digital governance thesis, then the relationship between technological and organizational change will need to be re-thought.

Co-creation in Local Public Services Delivery Innovation: Slovak Experience

2015 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 521-535 ◽  
Author(s):  
Beata Mikusova Merickova ◽  
Juraj Nemec ◽  
Mária Svidroňová
Keyword(s):  
Local Government ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Public Services ◽  
Negative Attitudes ◽  
Local Public Services ◽  
Services Delivery ◽  
Social Innovations ◽  
Local Government Level ◽  
Original Survey

The new approaches to the delivery of local public services include co-creation. In this paper, we focus on two local public service delivery actors: local governments and civil society. Our objective is to identify different types of co-creation in social innovations and the relevant drivers and barriers that account for the success or failure of co-creation processes at the local government level in Slovakia, focusing on the fields of welfare and the environment. The main findings of our analysis are that co-created innovations are mostly initiated by non-governmental actors, and that most local governments have neutral or even negative attitudes to co-created innovations. We provide a positive case study, in which the local government was open to co-creation, and public services were provided in an alternative way. Our study uses a qualitative approach and is based on original survey data from our own research, conducted mainly within the ‘Learning from Innovation in Public Sector Environments’ (LIPSE) research project.

scholarly journals Design Quality in the Context of Healthcare Environments: A Scoping Review

2016 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 136-150 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Anåker ◽  
Ann Heylighen ◽  
Susanna Nordin ◽  
Marie Elf
Keyword(s):  
Scoping Review ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Design Quality ◽  
Privacy And Security ◽  
Existing Building ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Healthcare Environments ◽  
Healthcare Architecture

Objective: We explored the concept of design quality in relation to healthcare environments. In addition, we present a taxonomy that illustrates the wide range of terms used in connection with design quality in healthcare. Background: High-quality physical environments can promote health and well-being. Developments in healthcare technology and methodology put high demands on the design quality of care environments, coupled with increasing expectations and demands from patients and staff that care environments be person centered, welcoming, and accessible while also supporting privacy and security. In addition, there are demands that decisions about the design of healthcare architecture be based on the best available information from credible research and the evaluation of existing building projects. Method: The basic principles of Arksey and O’Malley’s model of scoping review design were used. Data were derived from literature searches in scientific databases. A total of 18 articles and books were found that referred to design quality in a healthcare context. Results: Design quality of physical healthcare environments involves three different themes: (i) environmental sustainability and ecological values, (ii) social and cultural interactions and values, and (iii) resilience of the engineering and building construction. Design quality was clarified herein with a definition. Conclusions: Awareness of what is considered design quality in relation to healthcare architecture could help to design healthcare environments based on evidence. To operationalize the concept, its definition must be clear and explicit and able to meet the complex needs of the stakeholders in a healthcare context, including patients, staff, and significant others.

Effects of different modes of local public services delivery on quality of life in Spain

2012 ◽  
Vol 37 ◽  
pp. 68-81 ◽  
Author(s):  
Beatriz Cuadrado-Ballesteros ◽  
Isabel-María García-Sánchez ◽  
José-Manuel Prado-Lorenzo
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Public Services ◽  
Local Public Services ◽  
Services Delivery

scholarly journals Fostering Well-Being in the Elderly: Translating Theories on Positive Aging to Practical Approaches

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liora Bar-Tur
Keyword(s):  
Well Being ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Community Centers ◽  
Aging Research ◽  
Positive Aging ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Future Challenges ◽  
Sheltered Homes

This article overviews positive aging concepts and strategies to enhance well-being in the elderly and then presents a translation of theories on positive aging to practical approaches for Positive Aging. Drawing upon positive psychology and positive aging research and tools, this program is designed to help older adults improve their well-being by acquiring skills and strategies to cope with present and future challenges. The Mental Fitness Program for Positive Aging (MFPPA) can enhance seniors' quality of life by increasing their vital involvement and active engagement in life. This model is most appropriate for community dwelling individuals. It can easily be conducted in wide range of adult education programs in community centers, sheltered homes, and primary care clinics. It can also be conducted through online psychoeducational training.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document