Le Vérificateur général du Québec et la vérification d'optimisation des ressources: évolution et perspectives

Sommaire: Le Vérificateur général du Québec (VGQ) par ses vérifications d'optimisation des ressources (VOR) exerce, une influence croissante sur l'administration publique québécoise. La pertinence et la crédibilité sont les pierres d'assise de ses décisions. Pour être pertinent, le VGQ a adopté l'approche de la déficience appréhendée, qui cible des situations problématiques au lieu de cibler des entités. Tout au cours du processus de vérification, cette approche amène le VGQ à s'assurer que la déficience est réelle, sinon il interrompt la VOR La vérification implique notamment la comparaison de la situation avec une norme. Afin d'être crédible le vérificateur en réalisant une VOR, développe sa norme par une approche d'étalonnage. Nous avons constaté que le VGQ s'adapte à l'évolution de l'administration publique. La nouvelle Loi stir l'administration publique québécoise exige des rapports de performance des entités publiques. Si ces dernière jouent le rôe prévu par la loi, le VGQ devra probablement les certifier. Cette tâche, vu son arnpleur, constituera un véritable défi pour le VGQ. Abstract: The Quebec Auditor General (QAG), through value‐for‐money audits (VFMA), is having a growing impact on the Quebec public administration, with relevance and credibility being the cornerstones of its decisions. To be relevant, the QAG has adopted the “apprehended deficiency” approach that targets problem situations instead of entities. Accordingly, throughout the audit process, the QAG must ensure that the deficiency is real otherwise the VFMA must be terminated. The audit process includes a comparison of the situation against a standard. In addition, to be credible when conducting a VFMA, the auditor must develop a standard by means of benchmarking. We have found that the QAG is adapting to the changes taking place in public administration. Quebec's new Public Administration Act requires performance reports from public entities. If these reports play their statutory role, they will probably need to be certified by the QAG. This task, given its scope, will represent a real challenge for the QAG.     

Proof of Concept Centers in the United States: an exploratory look

In this paper we identify the population of 32 US university-related Proof of Concept Centers (PoCCs), and we present a model of technology development that identifies the economic role of PoCCs within that model. We examine the broad technology transfer challenges that PoCCs have been established to address. Further, we argue that PoCCs are a growing technology infrastructure in the United States, and they are important as a possible element of our national innovation system.     

Government Transparency in Historical Perspective: From the Ancient Regime to Open Data in The Netherlands

This article presents an analysis of the history of government transparency over the past 250 years. While this analysis is to a certain extent specific to The Netherlands, the analysis will also identify more general patterns that are arguably relevant to the development of transparency in other Western countries. The overview highlights how, when, and why transparency was conceived as a cornerstone of representative democracy to allow the people to monitor their representatives and evolved into a fundament of participatory democracy that allows people to participate in the public domain.     

Predictive Policing: Review of Benefits and Drawbacks

This literature review illuminates the conceptualization of predictive policing, and also its potential and realized benefits and drawbacks. The review shows a discrepancy between the considerable attention for potential benefits and drawbacks of predictive policing in the literature, and the empirical evidence that is available. The empirical evidence provides little support for the claimed benefits of predictive policing. Whereas some empirical studies conclude that predictive policing strategies lead to a decrease in crime, others find no effect. At the same time, there is no empirical evidence at all for the claimed drawbacks. We conclude that the current thrust of predictive policing initiatives is based on convincing arguments and anecdotal evidence rather than on systematic empirical research. We urge the research community to do independent tests of both positive and negative expectations to generate an evidence base for predictive policing.     

Governance modes in global and democratic transitions: Issue area variations in Thai politics since 1973

Globalisation and democratisation have contributed to the emergence of multiple and changing governance modes across issue areas within political systems. But standard methodological and concept refinement strategies to analyse these different types of governance encounter difficulties because they test or modify singular “root” conceptions of governance. This article proposes an alternative solution by integrating issue area variations and state‐society relations to illuminate the multiple and changing modes of governance within states. Variations in the extent of issue accessibility, political participation, and policy penetration generate different governance modes across issue areas. To illustrate the utility of this approach, this article uses it to systematise some perplexing variations in Thai politics since 1973.     

Governance in Public and Private Management

This article analyses the effect of governance in the delivery of public services, and the advantages of collaboration with the private sector in the provision of these public services. The article is not intended to be the conclusions drawn from an empirical study, but rather is based on the experience of a practitioner who has worked as a civil servant in the public sector and as a manager in the private sector. The advantages of private participation are listed, without prejudicing the role of regulator which must be exercised by the public sector.     

The impact of community-based capital cash transfers on orphan schooling in Kenya

In this article we report on a community-based capital cash transfer initiative (CCCT) in Kenya that sought to mobilise and enable HIV-affected communities to respond to the needs of orphaned and vulnerable children. With bilateral funding, the Social Services Department in Kenya provided 80 communities across ten districts with advice and resources to set up social enterprises for the support of vulnerable children. A wide range of food and income generating activities were initiated by the communities, whose produce or profits contributed to the improved school attendance and performance of orphaned children, particularly amongst girls. We conclude that CCCT is a viable strategy for improving orphan schooling in sub-Saharan Africa.

L'importance des transferts de capitaux communautaires sur la scolarisation des orphelins au Kenya

Dans cet article nous présentons un compte rendu d'une initiative de transfert de capitaux communautaires (TCC) au Kenya qui a cherché à mobiliser et à permettre à des communautés touchées par le VIH de répondre aux besoins d'enfants orphelins et vulnérables. Grâce à un financement bilatéral, le département des services sociaux du Kenya a dispensé à 80 communautés réparties sur dix districts les conseils et moyens requis pour mettre sur pied des entreprises sociales visant à soutenir les enfants vulnérables. Une variété d'activités génératrices de nourriture et de revenus ont été initiées par les communautés, dont les produits agricoles ou les bénéfices ont contribué à l'amélioration de l'assiduité scolaire des orphelins, ainsi que leurs résultats, en particulier parmi les filles. Nous concluons que les CCCT constituent une stratégie viable pour l'amélioration de la scolarisation des orphelins en Afrique subsaharienne.

El impacto de las transferencias de efectivo a nivel comunitario en la escolaridad de huérfanos en Kenia

En el presente artículo, los autores dan a conocer la iniciativa de transferencia de efectivo a nivel comunitario (ccci) en Kenia, la cual procuró movilizar y facilitar la respuesta de comunidades afectadas por el vih a las necesidades de niños huérfanos y vulnerables. A través del financiamiento bilateral, el Departamento de Servicios Sociales de Kenia proporcionó consejos y recursos a 80 comunidades de diez distritos, con el fin de establecer empresas sociales destinadas al apoyo de niños vulnerables. Las comunidades iniciaron una amplia gama de actividades para generar alimentos e ingresos, cuyos productos y ganancias contribuyeron a mejorar la asistencia escolar y el rendimiento de los niños huérfanos, especialmente de las niñas. Los autores concluyen que ccci es una estrategia viable para mejorar la escolaridad de los huérfanos del África Subsahariana.

O impacto das transferências de recursos de capital comunitários sobre estudantes órfãos no Quênia

Neste artigo fazemos um relato sobre uma iniciativa de Transferência de Recursos de Capital Comunitários (CCCT) no Quênia que buscou mobilizar e capacitar comunidades afetadas pelo vírus HIV para que possam atuar frente às necessidades de crianças órfãs e vulneráveis. Com financiamento bilateral, o Departamento de Serviço Social do Quênia ofereceu a 80 comunidades de dez distritos orientação e recursos para a criação de empresas sociais de apoio a crianças vulneráveis. Uma ampla série de atividades geradoras de alimentos e renda foi iniciada pelas comunidades, cujos produtos ou lucros contribuíram para uma maior frequência escolar e melhor desempenho de crianças órfãs, particularmente entre as meninas. Concluímos que a CCCT é uma estratégia viável para melhorar o aprendizado escolar de órfãos da África Subsaariana.     

Risk Misallocation in Public–Private Partnership Projects in China

ABSTRACT

This article attempts to compare the preferred and actual risk allocation and then to evaluate the impact of risk misallocation (if any) on project performance. The results show a significantly negative relationship between project performance and risk misallocation. The smaller the degree of risk misallocation was, the more successful the project would be. One group of three risks (including “Corruption,” “Government's intervention,” and “Government's reliability”) and the other group of three risks (including “Approval and permit,” “Immature juristic system,” and “Land acquisition”) were found to contribute considerably to the prediction of project performance. This article provides information on the impact of risk misallocation on project performance in China's public–private partnership (PPP) projects. To enter and perform well in China's PPP market, private firms should pay particular attention to the identified risks.     

Pesticide poisoning in domestic animals and livestock in Austria: a 6 years retrospective study

A 6 years retrospective study of pesticide poisonings in domestic animals and livestock from 1999 to 2004 submitted to the Institute for Medical Chemistry, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna in Austria was compiled and analysed. Totally 380 pesticide analysis requests were referred by veterinary practitioners, from the Institute for Pathology of the above university, by regional and central governments as well as local police departments and district administrations, animal protectionist groups, public health authorities and private clients. Among the total number of suspected samples for pesticides, 175 (46.1%) cases were found positive to contain pesticides of various kinds. Among the pesticides found, carbamate insecticides were most prominent, representing 50.3% of the total positive cases. These compounds were followed by rodenticides-anticoagulants with 18.9% of the positive results, by organophosphate insecticides 5.1%, and by the rodenticides-nonanticoagulant 3.4%, the other 22.3% included molluscicides, herbicides, etc. In totally 225 animals, 123 animals were found positive for pesticide intoxication, among them 47.2% were dogs, 34.1% were cats 9.8% of other species and 8.9% of unspecified animal samples. The pesticides were characterized by HPLC-techniques using commercially available standards. The aim of this Austrian survey was to determine the incidence and frequency of confirmed pesticide intoxications in animals in Austria and to emphasize its relevance in veterinary practice for livestock and domestic animals.