scholarly journals Local agency costs of political centralization

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 425-448
Author(s):  
Roger B. Myerson
Keyword(s):  
Local Government ◽  
Moral Hazard ◽  
Agency Costs ◽  
Public Services ◽  
Democratic Accountability ◽  
Local Agency ◽  
Local Public Services ◽  
Local Residents ◽  
Political Centralization

We analyze a model of moral hazard in local public services, which could be efficiently managed by officials under local democratic accountability, but not by officials who are appointed by the ruler of a centralized autocracy. The ruler might prefer to retain an official who diverted resources from public services but contributed part to benefit the ruler. The autocratic ruler would value better public services only when residents reduce taxable investments, which become unprofitable without good public services. For local government to benefit local residents, they must have some decentralized power to punish an official who serves them badly even while serving the ruler well.

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.

The International Cooperation of Businesses in order to Improve Local Public Services

2017 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 869-887
Author(s):  
Leyla Angélica Sandoval Hamón ◽  
Fernando Casani
Keyword(s):  
Local Government ◽  
Qualitative Analysis ◽  
International Cooperation ◽  
International Business ◽  
Public Services ◽  
Government Policies ◽  
The Public ◽  
Local Public Services ◽  
The World ◽  
New Models

Changes in local government policies about the management of public services has been the focus of many investigations all around the world. However, what has not been studies is how some of the new models have relied upon international business alliances in order to improve the public services provided. A qualitative analysis, based on case studies of alliances between Colombian and Spanish companies, have been performed to help address this question. The results indicate that the changes in local policies have not only improved the public services but, with the agreements signed, a strong and agile partnership has been achieved.

Assessment of Financial Capabilities of Local Governments in EU Countries for the Development of Local Public Services

2016 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 379-397 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martina Halásková ◽  
Renata Halásková
Keyword(s):  
Local Government ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Public Services ◽  
Social Protection ◽  
Government Expenditure ◽  
Government Expenditures ◽  
Public Expenditures ◽  
Local Public Services ◽  
Local Government Expenditure ◽  
Local Government Expenditures

Local financing in advanced countries enables local governments to assess real local priorities as well as limitations. The present paper deals with financial capabilities of local governments for the development of public services, local government expenditure and fiscal expenditure decentralization in the EU28. By use of cluster analysis, local public expenditures are assessed by selected COFOG functions, as % of total local government expenditures in years 2010-2013. The results proved the largest differences in the set of countries in local government expenditures on social protection and the smallest differences in local expenditures on recreation and cultures, housing and community amenities.

Impact of privatisation and commercialisation on municipal services in the UK

2002 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 234-251 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dexter Whitfield
Keyword(s):  
United Kingdom ◽  
Local Government ◽  
Service Quality ◽  
Public Services ◽  
Democratic Accountability ◽  
Municipal Services ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
The Uk

This article looks at the fundamental changes that have occurred in recent years in the area of public services in the United Kingdom, with a focus on those provided by local government. The various forms of privatisation and commercialisation that have been applied are described. In the second part the in many cases catastrophic impacts on users and workers, for democratic accountability and service quality are detailed. The article closes with a discussion of responses and alternatives.

Local Government and Local Public Services in Croatia

2016 ◽  
pp. 201-215 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ivan Koprić ◽  
Anamarija Musa ◽  
Vedran Đulabić
Keyword(s):  
Local Government ◽  
Public Services ◽  
Local Public Services

scholarly journals Political decentralization and local public services performance in Indonesia

2012 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 55 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sujarwoto Sujarwoto
Keyword(s):  
Local Government ◽  
Political Participation ◽  
Public Service ◽  
Political Institutions ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Public Services ◽  
Service Performance ◽  
Local Public Services ◽  
Political Decentralization ◽  
Local Political Institutions

This study contributes to the existing decentralization literature by examining the association between political decentralization and local public service performance in the context of decentralization reform in Indonesia. The hypothesis is that improve local public service performance within political decentralization is associated with effective local political institutions and accountable local government. The hypothesis is tested using Indonesian Governance Decentralization Survey 2006 which consists of 8,320 households living in 120 local governments. Local government public service performance is measured by perceived improvement of three basic public services: basic education, health and general administration services. Multilevel analyses are applied to account for the nested structure of perceived public service performance within decentralized local government. The results show that effective local political institutions, better informed citizen and transparency, citizen political participation via community programs, and the presence of social group in community are significant for improving local public service performance. These results reveal after we control the model with household and local government socio-demographic determinants. The empirical findings suggest that improved local public services performance requires well functioning local political institutions, better informed citizens and transparent local government, and effective channels for political participation. 

Inclusion without incorporation: re-imagining Manchester through a new politics of environment

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hannah Knox
Keyword(s):  
Local Government ◽  
Urban Governance ◽  
Public Services ◽  
Government Control ◽  
Anthropological Perspective ◽  
New Politics ◽  
Local Public Services ◽  
Political Networks ◽  
Parallel Resistance

We know from recent work in urban studies that the role of local government in administering cities has changed significantly in recent years. The provision of local public services has gradually been moving out of local government control, becoming the responsibility of networks of charities, volunteers and private organisations, which now have to work in partnership with local authorities to deliver metropolitan public services. This chapter explores the effects of this shift in urban governance on political practice by exploring ethnographically the experience of governing a city under such changing conditions. The analysis takes as its focus environmental policymaking and approaches this set of practices from an ethnographic and anthropological perspective. Building on this ethnography the chapter illustrates how the work of doing politics in Manchester hinges on a tension between a desire for inclusion in decision-making and a parallel resistance to incorporation into specific political networks and regimes.

Fiscal Decentralisation and Provision of Local Public Services in Selected EU Countries

2015 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 595-613 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martina Halásková ◽  
Renata Halaskova
Keyword(s):  
Local Government ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Public Services ◽  
Social Protection ◽  
Central Government ◽  
Government Expenditure ◽  
Eu Countries ◽  
Local Public Services ◽  
Fiscal Decentralisation ◽  
Local Government Expenditure

Fiscal decentralisation aims to provide own financial resources or transfers from the central government for an efficient use of the original competences by local governments. This paper deals with the role of fiscal decentralisation and its impact on local public services. Rational indicators of revenue and expenditure fiscal decentralisation and selected local government expenditure are compared by public services, including the extent of decentralisation in selected EU countries. Modelling and comparison of selected EU countries is carried out through the method of multidimensional scaling according to the similarity of local government expenditure on services of social protection, healthcare, education, and recreation and culture (as % GDP) in years 2006, 2009 and 2012.

scholarly journals Alternative Options for Local Public Services Management in the Republic of Moldova

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Violeta Tincu ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Local Government ◽  
Public Services ◽  
Legal Framework ◽  
Management Option ◽  
Republic Of Moldova ◽  
Local Public Services ◽  
Perceived Need ◽  
Administrative Practice ◽  
Services Delivery ◽  
The Republic

The paper’s author analyzes several alternative options for local public services management in the Republic of Moldova, based on current legal framework and existing administrative practice. For this purpose, the need to choose an alternative management option was analyzed; alternative options were listed; and an analysis of each option was performed. The paper’s perceived need emerged from an existing situation, typical for the Moldovan local government, where management can only be one of the two traditional ones - direct or delegated, both generating enough problems (studied by the author in other publications). However, local government is often unaware of the fact that it has other perfectly legal alternative options. A reflection chart is included at the end of the paper in order to help local government select the optimum management option when it comes to the public services delivery.

Strengthening competitiveness of local public service providers in Germany

2006 ◽  
Vol 72 (4) ◽  
pp. 473-492 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christoph Reichard
Keyword(s):  
Public Sector ◽  
Local Government ◽  
Public Services ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Good Practice ◽  
Market Mechanisms ◽  
The Public ◽  
Local Public Services ◽  
Government Sector

This article discusses the challenges for providers of local public services to adapt to increasing marketization and competition in the public sector. Based on some empirical evidence from local government in Germany, the article describes different adaptive measures in the past and shows the legal restrictions to strengthening performance and particularly competitiveness. Furthermore, the article presents some findings from good practice cases of local service providers in Germany who have successfully exposed themselves to market mechanisms. Finally, the article discusses observed results of increased competitiveness in the local government sector, with special regard to quality, efficiency and public employment. The article concludes with describing necessary elements of a competitive regime for public services and with some general reflections about the role of competition in the public sector.

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