County Government Reform in Urbanizing China

2011 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 353-371
Author(s):  
Qingshan Tan

Many rising issues, such as urbanization, migration, social equality, housing, provision of public goods and services, are presenting the greatest challenge to county governments. In order to effectively tackle those social issues, the central government has delegated greater power and responsibility to local governments, particularly county governments. This paper seeks to address the following question: Does empowering county government improve local governance in rapidly urbanizing China? By answering the question, this study evaluates the effects of decentralization of the central policy regarding urbanization and governance at the county level, and addresses the issue of how empowering county government could improve local governance in rapidly urbanizing China. Keywords: • local politics • self-government • county reform • urbanization

2017 ◽  
Vol 55 (3) ◽  
pp. 858-886 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric S. Zeemering

As neighboring federal systems, Canada and the United States provide an opportunity to compare institutional collective action (ICA) by proximate local governments. After explaining the importance of understanding local governance in Canada and the United States in comparative context, the ICA framework is used to highlight propositions along two paths of inquiry. First, the ICA framework can be used to compare responses to ICA dilemmas in two distinct systems of local governance, focusing on the comparative instance of use and performance of ICA mechanisms. Second, the ICA framework can be used to analyze collaboration and paradiplomacy across the international border. Deploying the ICA framework for comparative research can improve our understanding of local governance and local government reform in both countries.


2019 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 343-368
Author(s):  
Nara Park ◽  
Young Ho Eom

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.


Author(s):  
Steve Modlin

The financial audit process has provided much transparency into the internal control structure and the ability of local governments to remain fiscally stable. The outcomes of many of these audits have provided much information regarding the ability of local governments to provide services in a timely and efficient manner. Even with the implementation of stricter legislation and more stringent accounting standards in addition to an increased level of state oversight, irregular practices and mismanagement continue to occur. This study examines the independent auditor findings in professionally administered governments in North Carolina. Findings indicate numerous reporting problems within a majority of county governments ranging from internal control problems to reconciliation issues that are required to be addressed for information users that question the sustainability of the unit. Lengthy audits processes, less expensive audits and smaller governments that do not have the ability to employ more accountants or accounting specialists are among the factors that increase the probability of reporting problems and inaccurate data.


2019 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 13-29
Author(s):  
Kanyadibya Cendana Prasetyo

Abstrak Sejak era otonomi daerah, setiap daerah memiliki kewenangan untuk mengelola dan memanfaatkan sumber daya di daerahnya, termasuk sumber daya kelautan dan perikanan. Adanya otonomi daerah juga berimplikasi pada peran serta masyarakat lokal sesuai dengan adat istiadat yang berlaku, termasuk hak ulayat laut yang dikelola adat (Customary Marine Tenure / CMT). Praktik-praktik CMT yang ada menunjukkan bahwa CMT dapat memberikan solusi terhadap masalah-masalah perikanan, termasuk mencegah munculnya tragedy of the commons yang mengakibatkan hilangnya spesies ikan. Di Kepulauan Maluku dan Papua, salah satu praktik CMT tersebut adalah hukum adat sasi laut yang berisi peraturan dan larangan dalam memanfaatkan sumber daya laut. Jika ditinjau lebih dalam, sasi laut dapat menjadi salah satu upaya tata kelola kelautan dan perikanan yang berbasis partisipasi masyarakat lokal dan memiliki prinsip berkelanjutan. Selain itu, pelaksanaan sasi laut juga membutuhkan dukungan dari pemerintah pusat dan pemerintah daerah agar keberadaannya dapat membawa manfaat bagi masyarakat, mendukung keberlanjutan sumber daya perikanan dan kelautan, dan menjaga keanekaragaman hayati. Kata kunci: sasi laut, hak ulayat laut, pengelolaan perikanan, pemerintahan daerah   Abstract Since the era of regional autonomy, each region has the authority to manage and use the resources in its area, including marine and fisheries resources. The existence of regional autonomy also has implications for the participation of local communities in accordance with prevailing customs, including Customary Marine Tenure (CMT). CMT practices show that CMT can provide solutions to fisheries problems, including preventing the tragedy of the commons that could extinct fish species. In the Maluku Islands and Papua, one of the CMT practices is a customary law called marine sasi which contains rules and prohibitions in utilizing marine resources. Marine sasi is one of the efforts to regulate marine and aquaculture based on the participation of local communities and on the principles of sustainability. In addition, the implementation of marine sasi also requires support from the central government and local governments to be able to provide benefits to the community, support the sustainability of fisheries and marine resources, and support biodiversity. Keywords: marine sasi, Customary Marine Tenure, fisheries management, local governance


Author(s):  
Kateryna Malyuk

The article analyzes the theoretical and practical aspects of decentralization as a foundation for the formation of local governments in Ukraine. The importance of introducing the reform of decentralization of power on the path of development of Ukraine as a democratic, social, legal state is proved. The activity of local self-government in the conditions of decentralization is currently a priority among the reforms in Ukraine, as new trends in state building of our country, formation of civil society institutions, optimization of the system of local self-government determine new conditions for decentralization. Traditionally, a constant view of decentralization as a process in which independent units that form the bearers of local self-government are formed in a centralized state requires the development of new approaches to the analysis of its content and, accordingly, the search for new opportunities to achieve the goal. The role of decentralization in the formation of the institution of local self-government is crucial. After all, decentralization is a kind of management system, in which part of the functions of central government is transferred to local governments. Decentralization is one of the forms of democracy development, which at the same time preserves the unity of the state and its institutions while expanding the possibilities of local self-government. It aims to activate the population to meet their own needs, to narrow the sphere of state influence on society, to reduce expenditures on the maintenance of the state apparatus. This process promotes direct democracy, as it involves the transfer of control of a number of local affairs directly into the hands of stakeholders. Thus, we can say that decentralization helps to build the civil society we so strive for. As a result of local government reform and decentralization of power, the basis of the new system of local self-government should be united territorial communities, which are formed on a voluntary basis in accordance with the statutory procedure with their own self-government bodies, including executive bodies. The reform should help improve the lives of Ukrainian citizens, as well as build a legal, modern, efficient and, most importantly, competitive European state.


2019 ◽  
Vol 49 (4) ◽  
pp. 694-718 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fubing Su ◽  
Ming Li ◽  
Ran Tao

Abstract China launched a massive poverty alleviation program in the 1990s that focused on nationally designated poverty counties. By injecting earmarked transfers with clear spending mandates, the central government hoped for major investments in productive capacities in the poverty counties so they could develop sustainably. Comparing fiscal data of county governments through a regression discontinuity approach, we show that the opposite was true. Poverty county officials failed to make extra investments in production-oriented areas while diversion of central transfers for administrative consumption was rampant. This article develops a better empirical strategy to challenge some earlier findings. Theoretically, this article offers a different case of elite capture under a non-democratic regime. Our focus on poverty regions also reveals the importance of maintaining bureaucratic support in local politics. It complements the popular notion that Chinese local officials are mostly geared toward growth.


2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 1-3
Author(s):  
Shyamala D.

Our nation has the longest written constitution but the implementation of the Local Governance has been transferred and their efficiency has properly monitored or rectified by the state and central government. This is conceptual research has been done in the implementation process. This research mainly focused on quality of life. The Lack of Implementation process is connected with resource exploitation. Resource exploitation has two type’s human resource exploitation and natural resource exploitation. The directly three systems are connected with sustainable development but overall development left without because of bureaucratic, social leaders, and Knowledgeable people this research is not critical research but this research has a starting point for many reformations. This concept has defined implementation process is not based on rule of law it should be considered by social issues and clearly instructing for the proper implementation process and reduce the level exploitation and monitoring the unethical professionals and their rectification processing time will be less. This concept has separated no proper implementation process and improper implementation and analyzing the important factors for the proper implementation process. The factors like misuse of power and inefficiency should not affect the proper implementation process. The result of the lack of implementation process is organized resource exploitation. This plan will reduce the worst handling of decentralization process may be a strong reason for the lack of implementation process will directly connect with the organized resource exploitation. This research focusing on the efficiency and equity of the governance strongly insisted people should train by the local governance free from favoritism, partial’s and nepotism, this plan has look into transforming the local governance. It will solve prolonging and procrastination in their issues It will reduce the organized crime result of lack of implementation process. Identify the exploiter or victim. The idea will combine the education system Social system and governance syste into one roof. To analyze all type of social issues and protect the weaker section.


Utafiti ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 54-76
Author(s):  
Ambrose T. Kessy

Tanzania has embarked on several radical measures to restructure its economy and governance structures, including local governments. For more than four decades, Tanzania has been striving relentlessly for effective decentralisation measures, yet the progress has been slow. The country has passed through several phases of decentralisation, with each phase inheriting some criticised characteristics that have been difficult to dismantle in the successive phases. For example, previously recognised mistakes have continued to block any attempts to diverge from the direction set by the Ujamaa policies. It is argued here that various attempts at decentralisation by the central government since the 1960s in Tanzania have fallen short of the government’s intentions to establish effective local governance. This being the case, two important questions prevail: Why has Tanzania made little progress towards effective decentralisation, despite various attempts to devolve powers from the centre? Why has Tanzania not fully decentralised, as echoed in the policy paper on Decentralisation-by-Devolution (D-by-D)? There have been a number of explanations for this retardation along the path to decentralisation. This article reflects upon the tenability of path dependency theory which posits that the longer an institution has been in place, the more resilient it is to change.


2013 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 130
Author(s):  
Wang Pao-Chien ◽  
Yeh Hui-Chi

This article examines local government reform in Taiwan. It highlights the challenges that new municipalities face in responding to rural – urban population, balancing centralism and localism, and protecting cultural diversity and minority rights. By applying Dillion’s rule and Home rule theories, it classifies two types of special municipalities, identifying their characteristics, advantages and disadvantages. The article is presented in three parts. The first part examines the structure of local government, then explains how local governments are established and their relationship with central government. The second part focuses on government reform, by highlighting the issues and concerns facing local and central governments, and their respective reforms. The third part classifies two types of special municipality governments, by examining how each type balances efficiency and democracy, and the needs of central government versus the local community. The article concludes with a discussion of future challenges facing local government and special municipalities.


Author(s):  
Colin Copus ◽  
Alasdair Blair ◽  
Katarzyna Szmigiel-Rawska ◽  
Michael Dadd

Reforming local government is a policy tool of central government when faced with local, national and international pressures for change and this is no more so than in times of political, social and economic crisis. The re-design of the institutional architecture of local political decision-making is therefore driven as much by the needs of the centre as by the needs of the localities, with a series of arguments for change propagated by the centre that reflects a set of central policy preferences. Once the shape, size, decision-making process, functions, purpose and tasks of local government are re-designed at the macro level, local political actors are the faced with opportunities for micro-level re-engineering of the systems bequeathed by the centre. The chapter employs the findings of separate research conducted among political leaders in England and Poland to explore how institutional design by central government, aimed at solving one set of policy problems, can energise further local re-design of local political institutions. Central government re-design of local politics can create a pattern of unfinished business which leads to further central interference in the architecture of local politics.


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