Who and What Holds Back Reforms in Croatia? – The Political Economy Perspective

The purpose of this paper is to explore the factors affecting reform patterns in Croatia in order to identify the main reasons for the (missing) reform success so far. The focus is on the analysis of the political system, especially on government fragmentation as one of the main features of proportional electoral rule and clientelism. In addition to political variables, economic factors are analysed as well. The obtained results show that reforms in Croatia were implemented during crises, that coalition governments are not conducive to reforms and that clientelism and corruption present significant obstacles for reform implementation in Croatia. Moreover, the results show that political cycles also have a significant effect, with reform activity slowing down as elections approach. This article contributes to the burgeoning debate on reform implementation (in the post-socialist societies) from the political economy perspective.

The 21st Century Reforms (Re)Shaping the Education Policy of Inclusive and Special Education in Finland

In recent decades, an essential global aim of the reforms of special education has been the promotion of inclusive education. This article discusses the implementation of reforms with a focus on tiered support systems in the context of Finnish comprehensive school education. Based on earlier literature, legislation, and administrative documents, we provide a background for Finnish education policy and special education reforms. The focus of this article is on the description of parallel reforms targeting the re-structuring of the systems around support for students and funding of education in the 2010s. We discuss the processes leading to these reforms and the reforms themselves. In addition, we discuss their implications for the organization of the tiered support system. Finally, we highlight some challenges of reform implementation and the current education policy’s movements towards inclusive education.

Implementing Educational Reform

There is constant pressure on governments and policy makers to raise the standard of education, and to develop appropriate curriculum and pedagogies for students. It is no easy task. This book presents eight specific case studies of education reform implementation which capture how the design and implementation choices of policy makers are shaped by national and historical contexts. They offer real examples of the choices and constraints faced by policymakers and practitioners. The cases are a mix of nationally and locally mandated reforms with five examples from nations where the state initiated and guided reforms. The concluding synthesis chapter highlights commonalities and differences across the cases and disparate responses to shared concerns. Providing a breadth of real-world research, it will assist policy makers, practitioners and other stakeholders interested in system change.

Exploring the Reform of “Teachers, Teaching Materials, and Teaching Methods” Based on the “1+X” Certificate

In order to promote the reform of vocational education, the state has issued the National Vocational Education Reform Implementation Plan, in which the reform of “Teachers, Teaching Materials, and Teaching Methods” as well as the “1 + X” certificate have been the most prominent topics for discussion. Facing new opportunities for vocational education development, popularizing the blend of “1 + x” courses and certificates, strengthening the integration of production and education, as well as enhancing professional soft skills are urgent issues to solved. This article combines the “1+ X” certificate of civil engineering professional construction drawings and analyzes the necessity of promoting the “1 + X” professional skill level as well as the combination of certificate and curriculum construction in deepening the reform of “Teachers, Teaching Materials, and Teaching Methods.” Several suggestions have been put forward for the reform of “Teachers, Teaching Materials, and Teaching Methods,” which would be helpful for the practical exploration in the reform of “three teaching methods.”

Understanding service reorganisation in the Irish health & social care system from 1998 to 2020: lessons for reform and transformation

Background: Given policy drives for integrated care and other reforms requiring service reorganisation this study analyses service reorganisation in the Irish health and social care system from 1998 to 2020 with the aim of identifying lessons for reform implementation and system learning generally. Methods: A mixed-method, co-designed study of three distinct datasets through in a policy document analysis, a thematic analysis of interviews with elite respondents, and a formal review of the international literature, sets the Irish reorganisation story in the context of services and system reorganisation elsewhere. This approach is apt given the complexity involved. Results: We find repeated policy declarations for forms of integrated care from the early 1990s in Ireland. These have not resulted in effective change across the system due to political, organisational and implementation failures. We identify poor clarity and commitment to policy and process, weak change management and resourcing, and reluctance from within the system to change established ways of working, cultures and allegiances. Given its narrative approach and identification of key lessons, this study is of use to policy makers, researchers and practitioners, clinical and managerial. It forms part of a bigger project of evidence building for the implementation of Sláintecare, Ireland’s 10-year health system reform programme. Conclusions: The paper captures important lessons for regionalisation of services delivery and other reorganisations in service-based systems more generally. We find evidence of a negative policy/implementation/practice cycle repeatedly missing opportunities for reform. Learning to break this cycle is essential for implementing Sláintecare and other complex reorganisational health reforms generally.

STRATEGIC PROSPECTS FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF LAND REFORM IN UKRAINE AND THE LAUNCH OF THE LAND MARKET

Theoretical and practical aspects of development of strategic prospects for the land reform implementation in Ukraine have been analysed, possible consequences of termination of moratorium on land sale and the need to improve management in the process of the national land reform implementation have been determined in the article. The main strategic priorities of land relations in Ukraine have been covered. The research vector is focused on taking into account principles of land resource management regulated by specific methods and forms of legal impact on the land market formation and free circulation of land in general, management in a particular area complying with theoretical foundations of basic mechanisms of public administration and regulation. The conceptual foundations of strategic prospects for the implementation of the land reform in Ukraine and the launch of the land market have been presented in the article. It has been noted that the strategic prospects for the implementation of land reform in Ukraine will make it possible to achieve economic, social and environmental effects and to implement a number of sustainable development goals. The main legislation issues and the need of certain changes, improvement of public administration in the area of land relations enabling the economic growth in Ukraine have been covered. Keywords: land market, moratorium, land reform, land protection, monetary valuation of land, strategy, sustainable development, competitiveness.

The main challenges of Public Sector Accounting reforms and World Bank's Public Sector Accounting and Reporting (PULSAR) Program

PurposeThe purpose of this article is to contribute to a dialogue between practitioners and academics. The article discusses the relevance of Public Sector Accounting (PSA) reforms, including their key approaches and challenges, and the role of the World Bank's Public Sector Accounting and Reporting (PULSAR) Program.Design/methodology/approachThis is a practitioner's viewpoint, which reflects World Bank and PULSAR Program's publicly available documents and the opinions of a practitioner involved in the implementation of PSA reforms.FindingsImplementation of PSA reforms, based on the good international standards and practices, such as International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS), represents an opportunity for governments to significantly improve (1) the quality, reliability and comparability of their financial information; (2) decision-making process of the high-level public officials; and (3) the overall levels of fiscal transparency and public sector accountability and performance. There are several main approaches of the PSA reform implementation that could be observed across the globe. In practice, many countries and different jurisdictions face multiple challenges associated with PSA reform implementation. The World Bank and PULSAR Program in particular represent a valuable source of knowledge generation and sharing, and also acts as a catalyst for promoting PSA reforms in beneficiary countries.Research limitations/implicationsThe limitations of this article (which are also its strength in terms of fitness for purpose) are that as a practitioner's viewpoint, it provides a brief overview and personal judgements rather than an empirical analysis of developments applying a theoretical framework.Social implicationsA practitioner's engagement with academic supports increased understanding of the respective views leading to better outcomes for practitioners and academics working in the area of public sector accounting.Originality/valueThe article provides a practitioner's input on the relevance of PSA reforms and their key challenges.