THE RISE OF THE INTERMEDIATE LEVEL INSTITUTION IN BRITISH PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION: THE CASE OF THE ARTS AND TRAINING

During the 1980s there was both centralization and decentralization in the British policy process. The centre was to be responsible for broad policy whilst the institutions in closest contact with those who consumed or used a service were to be responsible for implementation. This style was, in part, a reaction to the perception that organized interests acted as a severe restraint on the centre. Experience, however, demonstrated government's dependence on the cooperation of organized interests and their intermediate organizations. This article argues that effective policy-making requires the formation of intermediate organizations linking macro- and micro-institutions. These organizations are vital for communication, representation and negotiation and therefore they inevitably constrain the centre's freedom. Effective policy requires a partnership between the centre and sub-centre via intermediate institutions and these institutions are likely to become more important as decentralization continues. The role of intermediate institutions are explored via case studies of training and arts policy.     

Community-Based Corrections for Young Offenders: Proposal for a “Localized” Corrections

Recent years have witnessed the exponential growth of community-based corrections programs for young offenders worldwide. Proponents of these programs contend that such initiatives are effective and humane alternatives to incarceration and operate to reduce youthful misbehavior. These assertions, however, have been called into question by empirical research and there is a danger that the ‘panacea’ of community corrections will be replaced by more punitive and less enlightened policies and programs.

It is argued that the potential effectiveness of community-based corrections has been hindered by the manner in which such programs are designed and delivered, and that insufficient attention has been given to the notions of community and community involvement. Several principles of ‘localized’ corrections which would address many of the current deficiencies are outlined. Localized corrections involves communities, rather than government agencies and ministries, assuming primary responsibility for identifying and addressing the needs of youth.     

The Tale of the Three Gyms

<正>As if hunting for an apartment in Beijing wasn’t difficult enough-trying to find the perfect fit between proximity to work,price and life’sother little conveniences(such as Jenny Lou’s and other Western grocery stores)-Iadded another requirement to my search fora new pad: a nearby gym.     

A Foreigner's Five-Year Plan

<正>Three years ago, the thought of moving to and working in China was just about as foreign as the country itself. I certainly had the means and interest to visit, but I really had no desire to     

Where Tigers Once Leaped

<正>I can count the number of times I’ve had my breath taken away on the fingers of one hand. China takes credit for two of those instances. The first was my introduction to the noxious cloud of gray that hangs over Beijing. The second was standing atop a rock looking up and down the reaches     

Risk and Financial Armageddon in Ireland: The Politics of the Galway Tent

This article examines Ireland's financial crisis. Thus far explanation has focused on individual or collective administrative failure: the office(r) of financial regulation singularly failed to scrutinise the banks sufficiently: it was a matter of poor risk management. While this article would agree that the (mis)management of risk was important to how the crisis unfolded, I argue that an explanation of why the crisis emerged demands an altogether different focus. Put simply, after financial regulatory reform, a reconfiguration of risk in politics took place as the locus of decision‐making about financial risk shifted from the realm of the political/legal (Cabinet/Central Bank/Department of Finance) to the economic/legal (retail banks, shareholders/consumers). It was a critical development, one that mirrored events taking place in the UK, upon which Ireland drew experience, for now assessments about risk undertaken by the banks demanded that intervention could be justified only on an ascertainable risk, not a theoretical uncertainty (or spurious fear). The evidentiary bar for intervention was therefore raised, removing the precautionary instinct implicit in the prudential governance of Central Banks.     

The Coalition Programme: A New Vision for Britain or Politics as Usual?

The Coalition programme includes restructuring public provision through reforms and cuts which will take public spending in the Britain below that in the US. This article explores whether the Coalition agenda is best understood as a new approach to Britain's deep‐seated economic short‐comings or simply as the normal politics of gaining and retaining power. It analyses the current government's programme, identifies the common features across the range of policies and discusses how they are likely to develop as they encounter set‐backs.     

FACTORS INFLUENCING THE USE OF PERFORMANCE INFORMATION FOR DECISION MAKING IN AUSTRALIAN STATE AGENCIES

Is the state of a performance measurement system the most important element for promoting the utilization of performance indicators (PIs) in the public sector? Or are there other more influential factors, such as organizational culture, or even individual perceptions on the merit of performance measurement for their agency? Through a survey on a small group of managers specializing in performance measurement in 21 Australian state government agencies, this research examines the relative influence of the following factors on the use of PIs for internal decision making: the agency's performance measurement system, stakeholder support for the agency's performance measurement, organizational culture, the external environment, and individual perceptions on the impact of performance measurement in the agency.