scholarly journals Elections and local government performance in Brazil

2017 ◽  
Vol 24 (83) ◽  
pp. 580-599
Author(s):  
Pedro Luiz Costa Cavalcante
Keyword(s):  
Local Government ◽  
Citizen Participation ◽  
Latin American ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Electoral Competition ◽  
Institutional Arrangement ◽  
Policy Outcomes ◽  
Government Performance ◽  
Political Rights ◽  
National Analysis

Abstract The 1988 federal Constitution introduced a complex and innovative institutional arrangement that not only reestablished political rights and democratic procedures, but also reinforced decentralization as a fundamental guideline for policy implementation in Brazil. As a result, municipalities have become pivotal actors in the policymaking process. Scholars of Latin American politics have given much emphasis to the causes and determinants of decentralization, but not much has been done toward a more general understanding of how this increased decentralization has affected policymaker behavior and policy outcomes. This paper aims to do exactly that. Specifically, it investigates how institutional arrangements and electoral competition affect local government performance. The theoretical basis is the electoral democratic theory that broadly highlights elections as instruments of citizen control in retrospective and prospective voting approaches. The research employs a large-N cross sub-national analysis based on a dataset of electoral, partisan, socioeconomic and public financial information collected from over 5500 municipalities. Local governments’ performance, our dependent variables, are synthetic indicators formulated from 2009 nationwide surveys on public education, health, housing and welfare services. The OLS regression results confirm the hypothesis that politics variables do matter in how politicians make decisions and implement policy under the new Brazilian democratic Era. The empirical evidences suggest that electoral competition does not present a direct effect on government performance, however, ideology and citizen participation do. Therefore, this paper helps to expand our understanding of a political system’s impact on public policy outputs, which is extremely important not only for academic purpose but also to support policymakers’ decisions.

scholarly journals Participatory Democracy in Local Government

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 246-268
Author(s):  
Ángel H. Iglesias Alonso ◽  
Roberto L. Barbeito Iglesias
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Local Government ◽  
Citizen Participation ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Local Politics ◽  
Integrated Approach ◽  
City Government ◽  
Administrative Participation

In 2015, the local government of the city of Madrid (Spain) introduced an electronic participation system. This initiative stemmed mainly from the social movements that had occupied the squares of many Spanish cities since 2011. As a result of the local elections in 2015, many of those same activists gained institutional power, took citizens’ participation very seriously, and decided to use the possibilities offered by the internet for political and administrative participation. In this article, we seek to assess the impacts of the Madrid city government with the e-democracy experiment – based mainly on establishing an online platform to facilitate citizen participation in political and administrative decision processes. Drawing on qualitative and documental data, our research indicates that whereas the overall aim of the project was to give citizens a say in local policy and decision making, our case study shows that participation was very low since most of the population does not feel concerned by these processes. Indeed, one of our findings showed that citizens’ involvement offline surpassed in some cases their online participation. To identify who is politically active online and offline is a great challenge, to which the promoters of the project did not pay much attention. Although e-participation was meagre in relation to the electoral turnout, the case study also shows that many proposals from the public were incorporated into the local policies, indicating that from a qualitative point of view, e-participation influences decision-making processes. Perhaps local governments should use a more strategic and integrated approach towards the use of electronic technologies to foster and motivate citizens’ involvement in local politics and administration. This more integrated approach should be less dependent on ideological incentives, more institutionalized, and must incorporate citizens’ perceptions and inputs before the introduction of new technologies.

Citizen-Assisted Performance Measurement? Reassessing Its Viability and Impact

2017 ◽  
Vol 48 (7) ◽  
pp. 716-729 ◽  
Author(s):  
David N. Ammons ◽  
Patrick M. Madej
Keyword(s):  
Local Government ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
Performance Measurement ◽  
Empirical Evidence ◽  
Citizen Participation ◽  
Performance Measures ◽  
Government Performance ◽  
Ongoing Support

Citizen-assisted performance measurement (CAPM) was a hot topic just a decade or so ago, promoted by enthusiasts as a useful coupling of the performance measurement and citizen participation movements. The idea of engaging citizens in the design of local government performance measures retains some ongoing support today based mostly on normative assumptions and testimonials. A careful review of the premises of CAPM and empirical evidence from CAPM projects, however, reveals weaknesses in the premises and few surviving measures from CAPM projects. The authors’ findings support the view that citizen efforts would more beneficially be directed upstream of performance measurement, with citizens engaged as focus groups to offer views on their local government’s performance objectives and priorities rather than as designers of performance measures.

scholarly journals The Effect of Regional Financial Supervision, Accountability and Transparency of Regional Financial Management on Local Government Performance

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
pp. 2966-2974
Author(s):  
Vincentia Wahju Widajatun ◽  
Francisca Kristiastuti
Keyword(s):  
Local Government ◽  
Financial Management ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Linear Regression Analysis ◽  
Sampling Technique ◽  
Financial Supervision ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Government Performance ◽  
Regional Government ◽  
Data Source

This study aims to determine the effect of regional financial supervision on local government performance, the effect of regional financial management accountability on regional government performance, to determine the effect of transparency in regional financial management on regional government performance, and the effect of regional financial supervision, accountability and transparency of regional financial management on performance. Regional government. This research was conducted in West Bandung Regency. The sampling technique used non-probability sampling techniques so that the samples in this study were 34 people. The type of data used in this research is quantitative and qualitative data, while the data source is the primary data source. The method of data collection is done by using a questionnaire. The data analysis technique used multiple linear regression analysis with the help of the SPSS 24.0 program. The results of this study indicate that simultaneously regional financial supervision, accountability and financial management transparency have a significant effect on the performance of local governments. Regional Financial Supervision has no significant effect on Local Government performance, financial management accountability has a significant effect on Local Government performance, financial management transparency has a significant effect on Local Government performance.

scholarly journals Influências dos stakeholders e desempenho do governo local: uma revisão sistemática da literatura

2020 ◽  
Vol 54 (3) ◽  
pp. 448-467
Author(s):  
Ricardo Corrêa Gomes ◽  
Stephen P. Osborne ◽  
Patrícia Guarnieri
Keyword(s):  
Local Government ◽  
Literature Review ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Government Performance ◽  
Government Effectiveness ◽  
Future Studies ◽  
Determinant Factors ◽  
Stakeholder Influence ◽  
Choice Of Studies

Abstract Although stakeholder theory has been on the academic agenda for more than 30 years, empirical evidence is still scant about stakeholders’ influence as determinant factors of local governments’ performance. Evidence from 82 empirical studies on stakeholder influence as a source of local government effectiveness is assessed in this article. The choice of studies was based in a systematic literature review, encompassing articles published in the period from 2007 to 2017 in which stakeholder influences are considered determinant factors of local government performance. This research contributes to this field of knowledge by synthesizing the pertinent publications and pointing out an agenda for future studies.

scholarly journals Political Competition and Local Government Performance: Evidence from Indonesia

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jahen Fachrul Rezki
Keyword(s):  
Local Government ◽  
Instrumental Variables ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Political Competition ◽  
Public Spending ◽  
The Political ◽  
Government Performance ◽  
Standard Deviation Increase ◽  
Per Capita ◽  
The Impact

This paper analyses the impact of political competition on local government performance in Indonesia. This study uses a new database that covers 427 districts in Indonesia, from 2000 to 2013. In Indonesia, local governments are largely responsible for fulfilling basic service delivery and, in this regard, they are extremely powerful. Political competition is measured using the Herfindahl Hirschman Concentration Index for the district parliament election. This variable is potentially endogenous, because political competition is likely to be non-random and correlated with unobservable variables. To solve this problem, I use the lag of political competition for neighbouring districts within the same province, as well as the political competition from the 1955 general election, as instrumental variables for political competition. The degree of political competition has been found to boost real Regional Gross Domestic Product (RGDP) per capita by 1.9%. Furthermore, a one standard deviation increase in political competition would increase RGDP growth by approximately 0.81%. The results also support the findings of previous studies, which have found that stiffer political competition is associated with higher public spending (e.g. infrastructure spending) and pro-business policies.

A Model Proposal for Local Governments to Increase Citizen Involvement in the Age of Information Society and E-Government

2022 ◽  
pp. 344-362
Author(s):  
Ceray Aldemir ◽  
Eyüp Şen
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Local Government ◽  
Citizen Participation ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Citizen Involvement ◽  
Decision Making Process ◽  
The Third ◽  
Innovative Solutions ◽  
The World

Crowdsourcing is a form of citizen participation in which an institution has a question submits to citizens via the internet in order to get citizens to think about innovative solutions to the problem. Several municipalities around the world have already used this means, but it has not yet been clear exactly how they can use it and which preconditions play a role in this. Thus, this chapter argued the concept of citizen involvement in the age of ICT by emphasizing the two related terms e-government and e-local government, then secondly the chapter underlined the importance of the necessity of citizen participation in the policymaking process. In the third section of this chapter, it has been argued the crowdsourcing concept as a tool of participation in the age of ICT. Then finally the paper outlined a model for local governments that may use the crowdsourcing approach in the decision-making process.

Turns of Direct Democracy at the Local Level in Latvia

2022 ◽  
pp. 91-114
Author(s):  
Lilita Seimuskane ◽  
Maris Pukis
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Local Government ◽  
Citizen Participation ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Direct Democracy ◽  
Local Level ◽  
National Government ◽  
Current Level ◽  
Study Participation ◽  
The Government

The chapter provides analysis of obstacles for the introduction of direct citizen participation in the decision-making process at the local self-governments in Latvia, as well as intents of national government to widen participative democracy by formalization of consultation mechanisms. Within the scope of this study, participation is seen as an interaction form of relationship between citizens and a local government. The highest form, according to Arnstein's gradation theory of a ladder of citizen participation, refers to the participation degree called partnership, delegated power, and is described by Teorell as a citizen voice in the government. Situation and perspective of local government referendums are analysed. Consultation is implemented at the level by involving the residents in the work of local government commissions and implementing public deliberations. Administrative territorial reform, performed by 2021 elections, will decrease the number of local governments to a third of their current level.

scholarly journals THE ROLE OF GOOD VILLAGE GOVERNANCE IMPLEMENTATION TOWARDS REDUCING FRAUD POTENTIAL AND ENSURING EFFECTIVE GOVERNMENT PERFORMANCE

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 457-463
Author(s):  
Agus Wahyudin ◽  
Hasan Mukhibad ◽  
Ahmad Nurkhin ◽  
Fachrurrozie
Keyword(s):  
Citizen Participation ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Government Performance ◽  
Fund Management ◽  
Concept Model ◽  
Central Java ◽  
Village Governance ◽  
Funds Management ◽  
Low Performance ◽  
Village Government

Purpose of the study: This research aimed to examine the effect of Good Village Governance (GVG), external supervision, and citizen participation on the fraud potential in village funds management and its consequent impact on village government performance. Methodology: The population studied involved 60 respondents including village officials in Demak Regency, Central Java, Indonesia. The data was collected through the use of questionnaires and analyzed using Path analysis. Main Findings: The results showed the implementation of GVG did not have a significant effect on the fraud potential in fund management while external supervision and citizen participation have a negative and significant effect. Furthermore, the GVG implementation and citizen participation were found not to have a significant influence on village government performance while external supervision and fraud have a negative and significant effect. Moreover, fraud has a very strong influence and it is the most dominant determinant of village government performance, therefore, it should be handled with serious attention. Application of this study: External supervision of village fund management is needed to reduce fraud and improve performance. In addition, the implementation of GVG can also support improved village government performance. Novelty/Originality of This study: This research builds a model and examines the GVG concept model that can be a solution to the problem of fraud and the low performance of local governments in Indonesia.

scholarly journals Pengaruh Faktor Keuangan Dan Faktor Non Keuangan Terhadap Kinerja Pemerintah Daerah

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 218-232
Author(s):  
Nadila Sundari ◽  
Fefri Indra Arza
Keyword(s):  
Local Government ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Sampling Method ◽  
Capital Expenditure ◽  
Total Sample ◽  
City Government ◽  
Capital Expenditures ◽  
Government Performance ◽  
Financial Factors ◽  
Service Period

This study aims to provide empirical evidence about the influence of financial factors (Size,Wealth, Intergovermental Revenue, Leverage and Capital Expenditures) and non-financial factors (Population, Legislative Size, Service Period and Age of Regional Heads) on the performance of local governments in Indonesia. evaluation of the performance of local government administration (EKPPD) as the main source. The population used in this study is the district / city government in 2018 consisting of 415 districts and 93 cities in Indonesia. The research sample was taken using purposive sampling method, the total sample obtained was 39 data. The results showed that the variables size, wealth, intergovernmental revenue, leverage, capital expenditure, legislative size, tenure of regional heads and age of regional heads had no effect on local government performance, while population had an effect on local government performance in Indonesia.

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