scholarly journals Post-Covid-19 and local economic development (LED): sharing experiences from Ghana

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bilattey Bimi
Keyword(s):  
Economic Development ◽  
National Economy ◽  
Paradigm Shift ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Local Economic Development ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Great Opportunity ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
The Way

The emergence of the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has brought many development activities to a standstill. The disruption to economic and other livelihood activities is unprecedented. Within the Ghanaian landscape, COVID-19 has become an overarching pandemic that has engulfed every facet of the national economy. The pandemic has exposed existing vulnerabilities in our communities that must be addressed to ensure resilient recovery. Serious economic challenges lie ahead that risk exacerbating poverty and unemployment, with national and local governments increasingly struggling to meet the needs of citizens. Addressing these challenges will require a paradigm shift in the way local businesses are modelled, livelihoods are shaped and how jobs are created. This is where Local Economic Development (LED) as a driver of innovation, employment and growth presents a great opportunity. 

scholarly journals Working in the world of the pandemic

2020 ◽  
Vol 37 (3) ◽  
pp. 97-102
Author(s):  
Luke Tredinnick ◽  
Claire Laybats
Keyword(s):  
The Novel ◽  
The World ◽  
The Future ◽  
Information Professionals ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
The Way

This paper compiles a series of responses from key information professionals to the novel coronavirus pandemic of 2020. Respondents were invited to answer the questions how the pandemic has impacted on their work, and how it might change the way of working in the future. Contributors to the article include Scott Brown, Steve Dale, Denise Carter, Alison Day, Hal Kirkwood and Emily Hopkins.

Law and Economic Development in South Africa: An Assessment through the General Theory of Law and Development

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 377-401 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. K. Pooe
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Economic Development ◽  
Human Rights ◽  
Social Justice ◽  
General Theory ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Local Economic Development ◽  
African National Congress ◽  
Law And Development ◽  
Theory Of Law

Abstract The ascension of the African National Congress into formal politics through its electoral victory in 1994 resulted in South Africa adopting one of the world’s most heralded social justice and human rights-based documents, the 1996 Constitution. Yet, two-decades of ANC governance this paper argues has not led to the types of economic development needed to advance the formerly oppressed African majority, Colored and Indian populations. This lackluster economic development is even more troubling when one considers the giant economic development steps Asian developmental states have made, without a human rights and social justice approach. It is the contention of this paper that the newly presented General Theory of Law and Development allows for a new type of analysis exploring the reasons why South Africa’s economic development trajectory has been so lackluster, when so many authorities praise the South African legal framework. In making this argument using the General Theory South Africa’s local governments sphere and local economic development will be the subject of analysis.

Is a Self-help Orientation Sufficient Basis for Local [Economic] Development?

2017 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 151-166
Author(s):  
Eris D. Schoburgh
Keyword(s):  
Economic Development ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Local Economic Development ◽  
Local Governance ◽  
Local Development ◽  
Participatory Development ◽  
Economic Transformation ◽  
Reform Process ◽  
Governance Reform ◽  
Local Authorities

Local government reform in Jamaica aims (i) to refocus local authorities to providing leadership and a coordinating framework for the collective efforts of the people towards local development and (ii) to assess local service distribution modalities between central and local governments, the private sector and CSOs for more cost-effective arrangements. The institutional context in which these objectives are to be pursued is characterized by a new local governance framework populated by ‘a federated system of development committees’. Development committees are expected to work in partnership with local authorities in pursuit of economic transformation of geographic spaces. Participatory development that development committees exemplify conjures up images of ownership of local [economic] development projects and an empowered citizenry that has the capacity to direct resources in their favour. Development committees represent a differentiated method of local economic governance. But the concern is: Are development committees fit for purpose? This is the fundamental question with which this research is concerned. A survey of parish development committees (PDCs) was conducted to determine the extent to which the organizations are giving effect to their mandate. The study is exploratory in design and relies on qualitative methodologies. The results of the study will be important for assisting the local governance reform process currently underway in Jamaica but should contribute to the discourse on the alternative approaches to managing development in developing countries.

scholarly journals Seeking Patterns in Chaos: Transactional Federalism in the Trump Administration’s Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic

2020 ◽  
Vol 50 (6-7) ◽  
pp. 512-518 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cynthia J. Bowling ◽  
Jonathan M. Fisk ◽  
John C. Morris
Keyword(s):  
Local Governments ◽  
Federal Agencies ◽  
The Novel ◽  
White House ◽  
Federal Response ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
Trump Administration

The federal government’s response the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has been marked by a series of apparently disjointed, chaotic, and confusing statements and actions on the part of both the White House and federal agencies charged with coordinating the federal response. These actions have left many state governors (and citizens) in a position to address the effects of the pandemic in a haphazard and atomistic manner. In this essay, we contend that the actions of the Trump administration, and its relationships with states and local governments, can best be understood through a lens of what we refer to as “transactional federalism,” in which federalism relationships are governed by a set of exchanges between the president and states, and between states. We conclude by discussing the ramifications of this form of federalism.

scholarly journals Legitimacy of uncertain policy work: Exploring values in local economic development projects

2020 ◽  
Vol 35 (5) ◽  
pp. 440-459
Author(s):  
Albin Olausson
Keyword(s):  
Economic Development ◽  
Organization Theory ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Local Economic Development ◽  
Local Development ◽  
Development Work ◽  
Development Projects ◽  
Observation Data ◽  
To Come ◽  
Development Agents

This article takes the standpoint that, due to high levels of uncertainty, local economic development work suffers from both input- and output-based legitimacy. Nevertheless, local governments are active development agents and try to come up with economic development initiatives. In order to better understand the legitimate basis for uncertain economic development work, this article offers an unconventional analysis of economic development projects. Drawing on scholars of organization theory, legitimacy is defined as congruence in values between the studied projects and the stakeholders in the surrounding environment. The article examines what kinds of values pervade local governments’ economic development projects. The empirical material is based on thick interview and observation data derived from a study of eight local development projects in Sweden. The results show that values of professionalization and deliberation pervade the analysed projects. Taking the two sets of values together, the results indicate that local government administration seeks to legitimize its economic development work as being based on professional directed processes of public deliberation. Both these sets of values challenge the local representative democratic system of government as the prime source of the legitimacy of local governments’ interventions.

LOCAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STIMULATION. EVALUATION OF EFFECTIVENESS OF NONFINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

2012 ◽  
Vol 166 (4) ◽  
pp. 177-185
Author(s):  
Iwona CHOMIAK-ORSA ◽  
Michał FLIEGER
Keyword(s):  
Economic Development ◽  
Competitive Advantage ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Local Economic Development ◽  
Local Development ◽  
Financial Instruments ◽  
Research Results ◽  
Local Leaders

Local governments support local development with various instruments. It is often the case that they focus on financial instruments. Thus they are no longer the base of competitive advantage and local governments have to search for nonfinancial instruments to attract companies to the region. Those instruments are of different effectiveness, so it seems crucial for local leaders to know which instruments are the most effective. The article presents the research results indicating the level of effectiveness of each nonfinancial instrument that local offices may use.

scholarly journals Local Economic Development in the Context of the Institutional Efficiency of Local Governments

2020 ◽  
Vol 31 (3) ◽  
pp. 323-333
Author(s):  
Renata Marks-Bielska ◽  
Magdalena Wojarska ◽  
Wiesława Lizińska ◽  
Karolina Babuchowska
Keyword(s):  
Economic Development ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Local Community ◽  
Local Economic Development ◽  
Original Data ◽  
Survey Study ◽  
International Studies ◽  
Correlation Relationship ◽  
Development Processes ◽  
Institutional Efficiency

Institutional efficiency of local governments can be defined as permanent readiness to shape economic and social partnerships with both entrepreneurs and local residents, as well as a capacity to provide prompt and competent responses to expectations of business people willing to start or already conducting business in a given municipality. Evaluation of efficiency pertains to the ability of a local government to express its goals, to agree about these goals with the local community and to be efficient in making decisions. The results of international studies demonstrate that in the long run the quality of institutions determines the wealth of individual countries. Socio-economic development depends not only on the economic base and financial support opportunities but also on factors that involve institutions. Bearing above in mind the main purpose of this article was to diagnose the type, direction and extent of interactions between the level of development and institutional efficiency of local governments in Poland. To reach it, the research team used both secondary data (from public statistics) and original data (acquired through a survey study comprising 1,120 representatives of local authorities). The level of efficiency of local governments was assessed with a synthetic measure of efficiency (EFF), whereas development was measured with a synthetic development index (DEV). The results show that the local governments were in a rather unfavorable situation in terms of both efficiency and development. In both cases, the average value of the synthetic measure applied reached a value equal to 30% of the highest possible score. Research proved that there was a correlation relationship between EFF and DEV measures (r = 0.365). In addition, it turned out that the power of impact of development processes resulting in some improvement of efficiency is more intensive than the effect of efficient functioning of municipalities on the development processes that occur within them.

scholarly journals Municipal Development Strategy as an Instrument of Local Economic Development Policy

2014 ◽  
Vol 36 (3) ◽  
pp. 13-25
Author(s):  
Mariusz Wiktor Sienkiewicz
Keyword(s):  
Economic Development ◽  
Development Strategy ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Public Management ◽  
Local Economic Development ◽  
Local Development ◽  
Local Authorities ◽  
Management Tools ◽  
Economic Development Policy ◽  
Development Policies

The main objective of this paper is to determine the importance of local development strategies for formulating and implementing local economic development policies by local authorities. In particular, an attempt is made to answer the question of whether local authorities properly and effectively use public management tools (i.e. a development strategy) to promote economic development in their area. Furthermore, the aim of this article is to analyse instruments for supporting economic development, which can be potentially used by local governments in Poland.

Epilogue

2020 ◽  
pp. 206-216
Author(s):  
Aaron Shaheen
Keyword(s):  
World War I ◽  
Paradigm Shift ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Human Soul ◽  
World War ◽  
The Way

The epilogue analyzes Johnny Got His Gun, Dalton Trumbo’s 1939 novel about a soldier who is so pulverized in World War I that he is more machine than man—and yet largely beyond the reach of prosthetic improvement. Like Dadists such as Raoul Hausmann, the novel rebukes the meliorist myth that as long as a disabled soldier has a functioning brain and a firm will, he can use prosthetics to live a life of spiritual and material purpose. As one whose corporeality has been reduced to little more than a brain, Joe Bonham anticipates a complete paradigm shift in which the very notion of the human soul gives way to cybernetics. Published at a time when mechanized warfare had paved the way for nuclear annihilation, Johnny Got His Gun shows that Bergson’s hope for the spiritualization of matter had collapsed at last into the mechanization of spirit.

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