scholarly journals Performance of Decentralized Local Service Delivery in Developed Countries: Case Study of Japan

2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (35) ◽  
Author(s):  
Priyantha W. Mudalige
Keyword(s):  
Local Government ◽  
Service Delivery ◽  
Political Institutions ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Central Government ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Local Service ◽  
Qualitative And Quantitative

Many countries decentralize the administrative, fiscal, and political functions of the central government to lower-level governments. In many developing and developed countries, governments and their policymakers have used decentralization as a means of improving the delivery of local service. Accordingly, this study is based on the delivery of local services to the people by the local governments of Japan as a developed country. The overall objective of this article is to review the performance of decentralized local service delivery in developed countries and based on a case study of Japan. The study also aims to examine the correlation between the revenue and expenditure of local governments of Japan and its trends. Basically, this article has been written based on secondary data materials. This data consists of qualitative and quantitative characteristics. Hence, a qualitative and quantitative descriptive method has been applied to analyse the performance of local government decentralization in Japan, and descriptive statistical methods are used to analyse the data and the correlation between revenue and expenditure. The problem in this research is how the functional political institutions created for local service delivery at the sub-national governments in Japan affects the success of decentralization. This research revealed several findings. The local governments of Japan have a sound institutional system and several powers recognized by the constitution. Japanese local governments monitor over 70% of national works, but a majority of the standard public services are the responsibility of local governments. Karl Pearson’s correlation value of revenue and expenditure is 0.979, and there is a strong positive relationship between revenues and expenditure. In Japan, the highest value of local government spending is on public welfare. It is followed by education, civil engineering works, and general administration, second, third, and fourth, respectively. Also, its central and local administrative institutions are maintained in a mutually dependent and mutually complementary relationship. Most of the local governments are collaborating with the private sector in Japan. As a result, the efficiency of service delivery has improved at the local level. In this way, waste management, which is a major local problem in Japan, is being dealt with closely by the central government and the local governments.

scholarly journals The implementation of Cost-Effective in Spanish local governments: Analysis of institutional work in a case study

2020 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 75-90
Author(s):  
José María González-González ◽  
Manuel Jesús García-Fénix
Keyword(s):  
Local Government ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Public Management ◽  
Central Government ◽  
Theoretical Perspective ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Longitudinal Case Study ◽  
Institutional Work ◽  
Different Types

Este trabajo se propone analizar las formas de trabajo institucional desarrolladas por distintos actores para la emergencia e implantación del Coste Efectivo de los Servicios de las Entidades Locales (CESEL). Los resultados del estudio de caso longitudinal realizado ponen de manifiesto que los principales actores, Gobierno Central y Ayuntamiento, llevaron a cabo diferentes formas de trabajo institucional (político, cultural y técnico), surgiendo conflictos durante su desarrollo debido a las distintas lógicas institucionales en las que se apoyaron: eficiencia económica e interés social, respectivamente. Este trabajo contribuye a la perspectiva teórica adoptada evidenciando que las formas en las que se desarrolla el trabajo institucional por distintos actores determinan la configuración final de la nueva institución que quiere crearse. Así, aunque la regulación estableció como finalidad del CESEL profundizar en el cumplimiento de los principios de eficiencia y de transparencia de la gestión pública local, las formas en las que se ha desarrollado el trabajo institucional durante su implantación lo han configurado como un instrumento de transparencia, presentando además serias limitaciones para que ésta sea efectiva. This paper aims to analyze the forms of institutional work carried out by different actors with regard to the emergence and implementation of Cost-Effective of Local Government Services (CESEL, Coste Efectivo de los Servicios de las Entidades Locales). The results of the longitudinal case study evidence that the main actors, Central Government and Local Government, carried out different types of institutional work (political, cultural and technical), by arising conflicts during their development due to the different institutional logics in which they were supported: economic efficiency and social interest, respectively. This work contributes to the theoretical perspective adopted by evidencing that the ways in which institutional work is developed by different actors determine the final configuration of the new institution that is to be created. Thus, although the regulation established that the purpose of CESEL is to deepen on compliance with the principles of efficiency and transparency of local public management, the ways in which the institutional work has been developed during its implementation have configured it as an instrument for transparency and also it presents serious limitations so that transparency is effective.

scholarly journals Assessment of Enhancing Transparency of Financial Statements

2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 175
Author(s):  
Viswa Nadham N.
Keyword(s):  
Local Government ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Opportunity To Learn ◽  
Financial Statements ◽  
Financial Statement ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
The Public ◽  
Qualitative And Quantitative

The study explored both the advantages of transparency and challenges facing finance departments of local government authorities in the course of preparing and presenting financial information. The study employed an explanatory case study,cross-sectional survey  and applied a triangulation of methods to collect both qualitative and quantitative data. The participants were all selected based on the opportunity to learn and the typicality of Dodoma municipality. A total of 80 respondents were involved. Data analysis was done through SPSS. Figures, tables, pattern matching, comparison and strong explanation building all aided in simplifying the analyses of findings.Key findings of the study unveiled that participation of the public in finance affairs of local governments heightened transparency in the preparation and presentation of financial statements. Furthermore, the finding reveal that International Finnancial Report Standards (IFRS) was rarely applicable during  the preparation of financial statement. It was also found out that tansparency in financial matters reduced fraudulent behaviours in the allocation and expenditure of local government funds.Key words: Financial statements, IFRS, IAS, Financial transperancy.

scholarly journals Financial Autonomy as an Aid to Rural Development: A Study of Isoko North Local Government Area of Delta State

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 63-72
Author(s):  
Egware O.N. ◽  
Akporien O.F. ◽  
Otuya S.
Keyword(s):  
Local Government ◽  
Rural Development ◽  
Service Delivery ◽  
Survey Research ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Local Government Area ◽  
State Governments ◽  
Financial Autonomy ◽  
Effective Administration

Lack of financial autonomy and undue interference by state governments have been identified as some of the impediments to effective administration of local governments in Nigeria. To this end, this study was carried out to examine the effect of financial autonomy on rural development using Isoko North Local Government Area as a case study. The study adopted a survey research design; hence, data were collected through the use of questionnaires administered to the management and staff of selected departments in Isoko North Local Government Council. The findings of the study indicate that financial autonomy will contribute positively to rural development and service delivery in the area of study, and recommends that local governments should be made financially autonomous to promote rural development and enhance better service delivery.

scholarly journals Introducing Municipal Bond Markets in Malaysia : An Assessment of Present Market Characteristics

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mukaramah Harun ◽  
Ting Ding Hooi ◽  
Hussin Abdullah
Keyword(s):  
Local Governments ◽  
Central Government ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
International Markets ◽  
Municipal Bonds ◽  
Municipal Bond ◽  
Alternative Source ◽  
Capital Financing ◽  
Basic Infrastructure

In developed countries, urban growth has multiplied the demand for investment in basic infrastructure services such as water supply, waste removal, roads and mass transportation. At the same time, decentralization strategies have shifted the responsibility for much of these investments to the local governments. This decentralized investment requires the development of decentralized capital financing. No longer can a central government pay for local investment by raising national taxes or borrowings on international markets and using the funds simply to construct projects at the local level. The introduction of municipal bonds is one of the alternative source of funds to finance the escalating costs of financing local governments. This paper discusses the conditions underlying the development of municipal credit markets, which Malaysia can use to provide a vehicle to narrow the local government’s resource gap through debt funding.  

scholarly journals Making Sanitation and Hygiene a Human Security Issue: The case of Nyamagabe District, Rwanda

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kwizera, Maurice Kwizera, Maurice ◽  
Lambert Karangwa ◽  
Jeannette Murekatete ◽  
Gilbert Rukundo Mutabaruka ◽  
Jean Paul Mbarushimana ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Local Government ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Central Government ◽  
Security Issue ◽  
Sanitation And Hygiene ◽  
Government Leadership ◽  
Working Together ◽  
Practical Experiences ◽  
National Governments

This case study was developed to inform subsequent research and analysis of local government leadership and prioritisation of sanitation and hygiene (S&H) in East Africa. Consolidated learning from across the three countries involved can be found in the Sanitation Learning Hub (SLH) Learning Brief: Strengthening sub-national systems for area-wide sanitation and hygiene. From late 2020 to early 2021, the SLH collaborated with local government actors and development partners from three sub-national areas to explore ways of increasing local government leadership and prioritisation of S&H to drive progress towards area-wide S&H. For some time, local government leadership has been recognised as key to ensuring sustainability and scale, it is an important component of the emerging use of systems strengthening approaches in the sanitation sector. It is hoped that this work will provide practical experiences to contribute to this thinking. Three case studies were developed to capture local government and development partners’ experiences supporting sub-national governments increase their leadership and prioritisation of S&H in Siaya County (Kenya), Nyamagabe District (Rwanda), and Moyo District (Uganda), all of which have seen progress in recent years. The development partners involved were UNICEF in Kenya, WaterAid in Rwanda, and WSSCC/ Uganda Sanitation Fund in Uganda. The cases were then analysed through three online workshops facilitated with staff from the local governments, central government ministries and development partners involved to explore them in further detail, review experiences and identify levers and blockages to change. Lessons from the workshops are documented in the SLH learning brief mentioned above. This is the case study developed by Nyamagabe District and WaterAid documenting their experiences and reflections from working together to increase prioritisation of S&H in Nyamagabe District, Rwanda.

scholarly journals Clientelism, Partyarchy and Democratic Backsliding: A Case Study of Local Government Elections in Bangladesh

2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 70-91
Author(s):  
Abu Elias Sarker ◽  
Faraha Nawaz
Keyword(s):  
Local Government ◽  
Public Service ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Democratic Governance ◽  
The Political ◽  
Institutional Environments ◽  
Effective Role ◽  
Grassroots Level

In a developing country like Bangladesh, the devolved local government system is widely recognized as one of the key institutional forms for the citizen-centric public service delivery system and ensuring democratic governance at the grassroots level. However, the democratic nature of local governments and their effective role in rendering services are contingent upon the political and institutional environments of the country. Competitive electoral process is key to local democratic governance. The purpose of this article is to analyze the implications of contemporary political order and institutional environments for the proper functioning of the Union Parishad (council), the lowest tier of the local government system in Bangladesh. More specifically, this study will reflect on how political clientelism, partyarchy and institutional environments have stymied competitive electoral politics at the local level which may result in democratic backsliding.

A Holistic Approach to Accelerated Attainment of Open-Defecation Free Status in Moyo District

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Katwere Ssemwanga ◽  
Dominic Lomongin Aballa ◽  
Steven Amoko ◽  
Sheila Nduhukire
Keyword(s):  
Local Government ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Central Government ◽  
Holistic Approach ◽  
Sanitation And Hygiene ◽  
Government Leadership ◽  
Working Together ◽  
Practical Experiences ◽  
National Governments

This case study was developed to inform subsequent research and analysis of local government leadership and prioritisation of sanitation and hygiene (S&H) in East Africa. Consolidated learning from across the three countries involved can be found in the Sanitation Learning Hub (SLH) Learning Brief: Strengthening sub-national systems for area-wide sanitation and hygiene. From late 2020 to early 2021, the SLH collaborated with local government actors and development partners from three subnational areas to explore ways of increasing local government leadership and prioritisation of S&H to drive progress towards area-wide S&H. For some time, local government leadership has been recognised as key to ensuring sustainability and scale and it is an important component of the emerging use of systems strengthening approaches in the sanitation sector. It is hoped that this work will provide practical experiences to contribute to this thinking. Three case studies were developed to capture local government and development partners’ experiences supporting sub-national governments increase their leadership and prioritisation of S&H in Siaya County (Kenya), Nyamagabe District (Rwanda), and Moyo District (Uganda), all of which have seen progress in recent years. The development partners involved were UNICEF in Kenya, WaterAid in Rwanda, and WSSCC/ Uganda Sanitation Fund in Uganda. The cases were then analysed through three online workshops facilitated with staff from the local governments, central government ministries and development partners involved to explore them in further detail, review experiences and identify levers and blockages to change. Lessons from the workshops are documented in the SLH learning brief mentioned above. This is the case study developed by Moyo District and WSSCC/Uganda Sanitation Fund documenting their experiences and reflections from working together to increase prioritisation of S&H in Moyo District, Uganda.

scholarly journals Rethinking Performance Management Practices in Local Administrations? An Evaluation of BV, CPA, And WPI Practices in the United Kingdom

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 87-98 ◽  
Author(s):  
Demokaan Demirel
Keyword(s):  
United Kingdom ◽  
Performance Management ◽  
Political Institutions ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Central Government ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Local Area ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
Local Actors

AbstractPerformance is a fundamental tool that improves results oriented on public administration. Performance management applications have become very popular in public institutions over the past 20 years. Direct accountability to the political institutions and the public is ensured by defining the performance of public administrations according to their organizational goals and objectives. Local governments are using performance management practices to assess the quality of public services offered. In the United Kingdom, performance management practices at the local level were promoted under the leadership of the central government. However, there cannot be a certain standardization or stability in performance management applications. The Best Value (BV) regime was applied primarily in England and Wales. The system was later applied in Scotland in 2003. In 2002, Comprehensive Performance Assessment (CPA) Programme was introduced. Wales preferred to stay outside of this program. The Wales Programme for Improvement (WPI) has adopted self-assessment and holistic assessment. After 2009, the cost-effectiveness of local services was evaluated through comprehensive area assessments. This practice was abolished after 2010, adopting a governance approach based on the common negotiations of local actors. This study aims to evaluate the performance measurement systems applied in the local area in the United Kingdom.

scholarly journals Local service delivery enhancement – attitudes: a case study of the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality

2010 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Israel Tsatsire ◽  
John Derek Taylor ◽  
Kishore Raga
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Local Government ◽  
Service Delivery ◽  
Institutional Capacity ◽  
Local Service ◽  
Empirical Survey ◽  
Nelson Mandela ◽  
Basic Services ◽  
The Republic

In this article, the new developmental mandate as s igned to local government is reviewed using the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality (hereafter referred to as the NMBM) as a case study. The concept of developmental local government is of cardinal importance as it imposes additional specific obligations on municipal councils. In addition, the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 (hereafter referred to as the Constitution) requires local government to render quality, affordable and sustainable basic services. Therefore, councillors are now required to meet specific Constitutional and other developmental legislative prescriptions pertaining to their communities and areas of jurisdiction.An empirical survey was conducted at the NMBM to test selected senior officials and councillors’ attitudinal responses to service delivery and the new developmental mandate as s igned to local government. The survey intended to es tabl ish whether there was institutional capacity to enhance basic service delivery. These findings are elaborated upon in this article.

scholarly journals The Joy of Joining Up: Modes of Integrating the Local Government Modernisation Agenda

10.1068/c0135 ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 159-179 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard Cowell ◽  
Steve Martin
Keyword(s):  
Local Government ◽  
Service Delivery ◽  
Central Government ◽  
Local Level ◽  
National Level ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
Service Improvement ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Government Reforms

Since 1997, local government in the United Kingdom has found itself at the sharp end of an ambitious programme of potentially far-reaching reforms known collectively as the ‘local government modernisation agenda’ (LGMA). These initiatives are intended to promote ‘joined-up government’ and holistic service delivery—two of the hallmarks of New Labour's approach to public service improvement. To date there has been very little analysis of the ways in which local authorities are approaching this task at a corporate level. The authors examine the theory and practice of joining up policymaking and service delivery in local government. They draw upon an analysis of the perspectives of key actors involved in the formulation and implementation of current local government reforms at the national level and the experiences of a sample of authorities that have been among the most active in seeking to integrate the various elements of the LGMA at local level. The evidence suggests that the superficially attractive logic of more integrated policymaking and service provision, which runs so strongly through current reforms, belies the multidimensional nature of joined-up working. The presentation of the LGMA as a coherent package of reforms therefore disguises the degree to which different forms of joining up may conflict. In particular, the push for closer vertical integration between local and central government, with ever-tighter control being exerted from the centre over priorities and performance, is seen as constraining progress towards more effective horizontal joined-up working at a local level.

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