scholarly journals Local government reforms in Estonia: institutional context, intentions and outcomes

Baltic Region ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 32-52
Author(s):  
Galina I. Gribanova ◽  
Georg Sootla
Keyword(s):  
Local Government ◽  
National Policy ◽  
Legal Framework ◽  
Local Elites ◽  
Strategic Influence ◽  
Political Choices ◽  
Main Factors ◽  
Institutional Model ◽  
Government Reforms

The local government reforms of 1989 and 1993 were intended to establish a dual pattern of central-local relations in Estonia. The choice of this model was inspired and supported by the Nordic states. Although the legal framework for local government has remained untouched since 1993, the introduction of institutional mechanisms for strong local autonomy was not a success. The first part of this article seeks to identify the main factors that inhibited the launch of the new institutional model. These were a lack of strategic influence on national policy-making, poor cooperation from local authorities, and the diminishing role of county-level governments and their subsequent liquidation. The second part of the article analyses the objectives and results of the local government amalgamation reform of 2017 as well as the theoretical and practical possibilities to re-establish central-local balances in Estonia. The analysis draws on institutional theory, which explains the effect of deep value patterns and concrete political choices on the institutionalization logic followed after the 1993 reform. It is concluded that the local elites retaining their old value patterns will downplay the effect of the 2017 reform.

scholarly journals The Establishment of Metropolitan Cities in Italy: An Advance or a Setback for Italian Regionalism?

2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. E-1-E-22 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giovanni Boggero
Keyword(s):  
Local Government ◽  
Legal Framework ◽  
Legal Order ◽  
Constitutional Amendment ◽  
Institutional Pluralism ◽  
Brief Assessment ◽  
Metropolitan Cities ◽  
Set Up ◽  
Government Reforms

Abstract This paper aims to provide a brief assessment of the legal framework of the newly established metropolitan cities in the Italian domestic legal order. After an historical overview of previous attempts to set up metropolitan cities in Italy (1), it summarizes the main statutory provisions of the Delrio Law (No. 56/2014) through which metropolitan cities finally came into operation (2) and it provides an analysis of its implementation, thereby attempting to make clear whether increased institutional pluralism and differentiation in the local government system will strengthen or weaken Italian regionalism (3). The conclusion will argue that, while the enactment of local government reforms combined with the entering into force of a significant constitutional amendment will increasingly diminish the role of the Regions, metropolitan cities, due to their ambivalent nature, still lack any propulsive thrust and face the risk of being marginalized until a consistent legal framework for their proper funding is laid down (4).

scholarly journals Informal Financial Institution and Sustainable Development Goal of Poverty Reduction in Kogi State, Nigeria

2019 ◽  
pp. 1-15
Author(s):  
Oluwoyo, J. Temidayo ◽  
Audu Peter
Keyword(s):  
Local Government ◽  
Financial Market ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Poverty Reduction ◽  
Financial Institution ◽  
Sampling Technique ◽  
Legal Framework ◽  
Least Square ◽  
The Masses

Among the various SDGs, Poverty reduction which is the foremost goal is fundamental, strategic and crucial to the achievement of the other goals in which can be achieved among other ways with an efficient, effective, diverse, indigenous and innovative financial market. With a dualised financial market inherent in Nigerian economy as obtainable in most developing countries, the study seeks to study the role of the informal financial institution on the sustainable goal of poverty reduction in Nigeria with particular reference to Kogi State using the Moneylender theory as its theoretical Framework. The study sampled 600 respondents using stratified sampling technique carried out by dividing the population into 3 subsets based on the senatorial districts ( East, West, Central) 4 local government areas are randomly selected from each of the senatorial districts, 10 wards were selected from each of the local government area to give a total of 120 stratum. 10 respondents were selected from each of the wards  concluded whose response was analyzed using descriptive statistics and Ordinary Least square hence the result showed that Non financial institution is a potential voyage toward the actualization of the Sustainable goal of poverty reduction in Kogi state, Nigeria and recommended that  Institutional and legal framework be structured to enable non financial institution to perform the role of money lender while serving as intermediary between the complex financial institution and the unorganised low income earners alias the  masses and those in the social recesses of the society.

Local Government Reforms in Federal Brazil, India and South Africa: A Comparative Overview

2013 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 453-470
Author(s):  
Helder Do Vale
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Local Government ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Transition To Democracy ◽  
Institutional Processes ◽  
The Past ◽  
Decision Making Processes ◽  
Government Reforms

This article examines the changes at the local level of government that have been taking place in Brazil, India and South Africa for the past thirty years as a result of complex federal decision-making processes. I summarize the most important federal traits of these countries and identify the role of key institutions behind the fiscal, political and administrative changes in local governments. The article draws on the institutional processes to dissect the anatomy of local government reforms in these countries and concludes that although the changes in local government structures and powers have been taken against the background of transition to democracy and/or democratic deepening, the scope of change in local government varied.

scholarly journals Strengthening Local Government and Community Governance in New Zealand

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Michael Reid
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Local Government ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Community Governance ◽  
Strategic Objectives ◽  
Regional Service ◽  
Government Reforms

<p>The role of local government and specifically the concept of community governance have been the focus of much attention in recent years. For much of its history, local government was typically viewed by governments and citizens as a conservative sector, valued for its dependability rather than for innovation and its services rather than for its role in promoting community well-being. Public sector reform, globalisation and increasing demands by citizens have increased awareness of, and appreciation for, the potential for local governments to work with other organisations to address complex policy and management issues. These pressures have compelled the sector to innovate, and venture into areas that were previously considered to be outside its remit. Local governments the world over have therefore undergone extensive programmes of reform, often aiming to reorient councils from service delivery roles to broader roles concerned with community well-being, strengthening community leadership, and steering local and regional service providers towards local goals and strategic objectives. This trend has been characterised as a shift from local government to ‘community governance’ (Rhodes 1997, Stoker 2000). Local government in New Zealand is no exception. The Local Government Act 2002 (LGA 2002) broadened local government’s powers and purposes, introducing a collaborative, citizen-centred style of working within a framework oriented to securing community well-being and sustainable development. This research examines the concept and practice of local and community governance, internationally and in New Zealand. Its focus is the local government reforms introduced in New Zealand over the last two decades, and specifically the role of community governance. It uses several research methods to assess options for strengthening community governance in practice. The primary method is the development of a model which examines 10 dimensions of the New Zealand system to assess the degree to which they are able to achieve community governance. In addition, the approach to community planning undertaken by a sample of local authorities is examined to assess the degree to which councils are using this mechanism as an instrument for strengthening community governance. Further, a number of local government participants were invited to answer a range of questions about three alternative governance scenarios designed to test whether or not there is an ‘ideal’ local government structure for achieving community governance.</p>

scholarly journals Tendencje centralizacyjne w Polsce po 1990 roku – ciągłość i zmiana

2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 25-37
Author(s):  
Jacek Wojnicki ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Local Government ◽  
Public Administration ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Main Research ◽  
Strong State ◽  
State Administration ◽  
The Government ◽  
Government Reforms

The article discusses the issue of centralization tendencies in Poland. It constitutes an attempt to present this process in the context of the functioning of public administration in our country. The main research question is whether centralization was constantly present during the 30 years of creating a new model of public administration in Poland, or whether it was strengthened after 2015. The financial independence of local government units is also a crucial aspect of the analysis. The article correspondingly focuses on the resistance of the government administration during the implementation of local government reforms. Importantly, what is factored in as well is the change in the perception of the position and the role of local governments in the political system after the 2015 parliamentary elections by the new government camp. Analysis of the past provided the precedent premises for strong centralization tendencies, in particular, the traditions of the strong state administration of the Second Polish Republic after the May coup in 1926 and during the People's Republic of Poland.

scholarly journals Functionality Problems of Collegial Government Institutions During the COVID-19 Pandemic and Solutions for the Future

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 ◽  
pp. 197-215
Author(s):  
Ringolds Balodis ◽  
◽  
Edvīns Danovskis
Keyword(s):  
Local Government ◽  
Virtual Environment ◽  
Emergency Situation ◽  
Legal Framework ◽  
Remote Work ◽  
Structural Units ◽  
The World ◽  
The Republic ◽  
The Government

This article analyses the ways for ensuring continuity of operation of the state collegial decisionmaking authorities – the Saeima [the Parliament of the Republic of Latvia], the Cabinet and the local government councils during Covid-19 pandemic. The work of the parliament, the government and local government in the emergency situation is examined, mainly focusing on the initiated form of remote work. Notably, in this respect, Latvia’s experience is unique since the Saeima’s e-platform is one of the first instances in the world where the parliament fully operated in the virtual environment. The article also analyses the role of the Cabinet as the crisis management centre during the emergency situation, focusing also on accessibility and other problematic issues in the remote proceedings of the local government councils and committees. The article concludes that successful solutions were found for the parliament’s work in the virtual environment within the existing legal framework. In the emergency situation, the local government councils and their structural units also had to try the forms of remote work. Additionally, the authors of the article have tried to provide assessment to determine which digital solutions employed during the pandemic should be used in post-crisis situations.

scholarly journals Mind the gap: Australian local government reform and councillors’ understandings of their roles

2017 ◽  
pp. 19-39
Author(s):  
Su Fei Tan ◽  
Alan Morris ◽  
Bligh Grant
Keyword(s):  
Local Government ◽  
Public Management ◽  
New Public Management ◽  
Local Level ◽  
New Public ◽  
Strategic Role ◽  
Government Reforms ◽  
Depth Interviews ◽  
Broad Approach

Over the last two decades a feature of local government reforms globally has been the introduction of New Public Management (NPM).  Under this broad approach to public administration there is an expectation that councillors play a greater strategic role and move away from involvement in day-to-day management.  This research, carried out in the state of Victoria, Australia, examines councillors’ understandings of their roles.  Based on 17 in-depth interviews and two focus groups, we found that despite the evolving legislative requirements framing councillors as policymakers not managers, most councillors continued to seek involvement in the day-to-day management of councils.  We argue that this gap may be linked to the diversity of views concerning the role of the councillor and the idea of representation and how both play out at the local level.  It may also signal a lack of awareness as to how the legislatively inscribed role for councillors has changed over time.

scholarly journals Strengthening Local Government and Community Governance in New Zealand

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Michael Reid
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Local Government ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Community Governance ◽  
Strategic Objectives ◽  
Regional Service ◽  
Government Reforms

<p>The role of local government and specifically the concept of community governance have been the focus of much attention in recent years. For much of its history, local government was typically viewed by governments and citizens as a conservative sector, valued for its dependability rather than for innovation and its services rather than for its role in promoting community well-being. Public sector reform, globalisation and increasing demands by citizens have increased awareness of, and appreciation for, the potential for local governments to work with other organisations to address complex policy and management issues. These pressures have compelled the sector to innovate, and venture into areas that were previously considered to be outside its remit. Local governments the world over have therefore undergone extensive programmes of reform, often aiming to reorient councils from service delivery roles to broader roles concerned with community well-being, strengthening community leadership, and steering local and regional service providers towards local goals and strategic objectives. This trend has been characterised as a shift from local government to ‘community governance’ (Rhodes 1997, Stoker 2000). Local government in New Zealand is no exception. The Local Government Act 2002 (LGA 2002) broadened local government’s powers and purposes, introducing a collaborative, citizen-centred style of working within a framework oriented to securing community well-being and sustainable development. This research examines the concept and practice of local and community governance, internationally and in New Zealand. Its focus is the local government reforms introduced in New Zealand over the last two decades, and specifically the role of community governance. It uses several research methods to assess options for strengthening community governance in practice. The primary method is the development of a model which examines 10 dimensions of the New Zealand system to assess the degree to which they are able to achieve community governance. In addition, the approach to community planning undertaken by a sample of local authorities is examined to assess the degree to which councils are using this mechanism as an instrument for strengthening community governance. Further, a number of local government participants were invited to answer a range of questions about three alternative governance scenarios designed to test whether or not there is an ‘ideal’ local government structure for achieving community governance.</p>

scholarly journals THE ROLE OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT SYSTEM IN SOUTH ASIA: A CASE STUDY OF PAKISTAN

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dr. Shehla Tehseen
Keyword(s):  
Local Government ◽  
South Asia ◽  
Reform Process ◽  
Military Commander ◽  
History Of ◽  
Democratic System ◽  
Government Reforms ◽  
The Military

Pakistan is a democratic country in the region of South Asia, but it has been deprived of political backdrop from its independence from the British Empire in 1947, notably in the field of local self-government. Pakistan's history demonstrates that inconsistency in civilian norms hampered the establishment of a robust democratic culture at all levels of government. The military has repeatedly swallowed the civil-military political romance. Each military commander instituted local self-government; General Ayyub instituted the Basic Democratic System in his dictatorship, and General Zia instituted local government as well; their primary goal was to legitimate their own authority and that of the military. However, the decentralisation changes in Pakistan may be traced back to the last military takeover led by General Musharraf in 1999. Under General Musharraf's leadership, recent decentralisation measures in Pakistan have been examined in this article. We emphasise the most important features of this reform and examine its growth in the context of history to better recognize the probable causes for the current decentralisation of power. In Pakistan, the history of local government reforms is particularly intriguing as, on request of a non-representative centre, each of the top three reform efforts has been executed using a "top-down" strategy for the reform process. It should be noted that each of these reforms is an add-on to the broader constitutional reengineering agenda that is designed to centralise the political authority of a non-representative centre further. In these cases, we would propose that the design of local government reforms is endogenous rather than exogenous for centralization purposes of the non-representative centre. Pakistan's analysis aims to provide understanding into the good economics of why non-representative governments were keen to promote local decentralisation, which has been dismay formerly

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