Implementing Performance-Based Program Budgeting: A System-Dynamics Perspective

The article proposes a model for evaluating budget reforms that combines insights from budgeting, policy implementation, and system-dynamics literatures. System-dynamics modeling combines both quantitative and qualitative research techniques to provide a new framework for applied research; its use is illustrated using performance budgeting as an example. Applied to the implementation of Florida's performance-based program budget, the model identifies actions in the short run that will increase the reform's likelihood of success: providing clear communications; facilitative budget and accounting routines; reliable performance information. The model also identifies critical legislative behaviors that influence executive implementation: how the legislature in the long-run uses performance information to inform resource allocation and how it applies incentives or sanctions to programs that achieve or fail to achieve their performance standards. The legislature has the opportunity to use program reviews prepared by legislative staff to invigorate the executive branch's resolve to continue implementing the reform.     

Catastrophe and the Public Service: A Case Study of the Government Response to the Destruction of the World Trade Center

The destruction of the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, resulted in a rapid response by government to evacuate the area and, in subsequent days, to bring the city back to a semblance of normalcy. This article provides a case study of government action in New York City during and after the World Trade Center catastrophe. What is most striking is the skill and intensity of government's response to the emergency and the hard work, dedication, and bravery of New York City's government officials. This article presents government and public service at its finest, under some of the most difficult conditions one can imagine.     

Crown liability in Canada: Developing compensation policies for regulatory failure

Abstract: This article explores and criticizes the use of private tort law and the common law courts to impose liability on governments for losses associated with regulatory failure. After describing the recent history of government liability law in Canada and the traditional deterrent and compensatory rationales for tort liability, the authors argue that the requirement of personal liability of public officials, the exclusion of “policy” decisions from tort liability, a legal requirement of “negligence,” the institutional characteristics of the courts, and the assumption of a deterrent impact of tort law are all inappropriate in addressing government liability claims. The article then explores a variety of mechanisms operating within the federal bureaucracy to respond to liability claims. These include the allocation of losses to individual bureaucrats and to the Consolidate Revenue Fund within government, the allocation of legal costs within government, the incentive effects of the settlement process, the ex ante review of losses by Treasury Board, the ex post review of losses by the Office of the Auditor General, and the treatment of excluded claims. The authors then argue for the development of feedback mechanisms within government to ensure that liability signals are received by and influence administrative decision-making. The authors conclude that the existing substantive legal principles and court processes are inadequate in themselves to ensure that government liability claims are addressed so as to reflect appropriately the relationship of the individual to the state in the regulatory process, and to ensure that liability risks are adequately incorporated into the regulatory decision-making process. They argue that a different set of principles should be developed and applied in addressing government liability claims; and further that these principles should be applied either through the courts with necessary reforms in response to existing institutional limitations, or through agency-specific administrative processes. Sommaire: Cet article analyse et critique l'utilisation du droit privé de la responsabilité déictuelle et des cours de common law en matière de responsabilitéétatique pour les pertes associées aux défaillances de la réglementation. Les auteurs dérivent l'historique récent du droit de la responsabilité gouvernementale au Canada, ainsi que les fondements traditionnels de la responsabilité délictuelle que sont la dissuasion et l'indemnisation. Ils affirment que l'exigence d'une responsabilité personnelle de la part des dirigeants publics, l'exclusion des décisions de “politique ”du champ de la responsabilité délictuelle, l'exigence légale de “ négligence ”, les caractéristiques institutionnelles des tribunaux ainsi que l'hypothèse de l'effet dissuasif du droit délictuel sont toutes inadéquates lorsqu'il s'agit de régler des causes mettant en jeu la responsabilité gouvernementale. L'article examine ensuite toute une gamme de mécanismes internes de la fonction publique fédérale conçus pour faire face aux allégations de responsabilité. Ces mécanismes comprennent l'affectation de pertes à des fonctionnaires particuliers et au Fonds consolidé du revenu au sein du gouvernement lui-même, l'allocation de frais juridiques au sein du gouvernement, l'effet incitatif des règlements à l'amiable, l'examen “ ex ante ” des pertes par le Conseil du Trésor, l'examen “ ex post ” de ces mêmes pertes par le bureau du Vérificateur général, ainsi que le traitement des réclamations exclues. Les auteurs recommandent que l'on mette au point des mécanismes de rétroaction au sein du gouvernement pour s'assurer que les signaux en matière de responsabilité soient bien reçs par les décideurs administratifs et qu'ils les influencent. Selon la conclusion des auteurs, les principes de droit substantif et le processus judiciaire actuel sont inadéquats, à eux seuls, pour assurer que l'on traite les réclamations de responsabilité gouvernementale de manière à bien refléter le rapport entre l'individu et 1'État dans le processus de réglementation, et pour permettre que les risques en matière de responsabilité soient incorporés de manière adéquate au processus décisionnel lors de la réglementation. D'après les auteurs, il faudrait mettre au point et appliquer un autre ensemble de principes pour les réclamations contre l'état, et ces principes devraient être appliqués soit par les tribunaux, moyennant les réformes nécessaires face aux actuelles limites institutionnelles, soit par l'intermédiaire de processus administratifs propres à chaque organisme.     

Political participation of ethnic minorities in the 1980s

Currently political participation, especially voter registration and turnout, varies substantially with ethnicity. Blacks and non-Hispanic whites participate at roughly equal rates, while Latinos and Asian-Americans are substantially less active. This variation may be the direct product of cultural factors, or it may reflect differences in the distribution of various determinants of participation, most notably education, citizenship, and age. Using data collected in 1984 on samples of California's black, Latino, Asian-American, and non-Hispanic white populations, we conclude that such variables fully account for lower Latino participation rates. Even with these controls, however, Asian-Americans remain less likely to vote. Because ethnic group consciousness is one of the variables related to activity, we conclude that ethnicity does have an indirect effect on participation as a basis for mobilization. In addition, we establish that noncitizens engage in nonelectoral activities, and we project future political participation rates of Latinos and Asian-Americans under several scenarios.     

Transnational white-collar crime and risk

Research Summary Business transactions have increasingly been crossing national borders, thereby presenting greater opportunities for white-collar crime and for the externalization of risk. The global economic crisis, resulting in part from the subprime mortgage scandal, is a prime example of this potential. To develop theoretical perspectives and practical interventions to prevent and respond to the global financial crisis, we consider similar issues of risk and white-collar crime associated with global transactions in electronic waste (E-waste). Policy Implications Smart (or responsive) regulation is a promising approach for addressing both E-waste and the current economic crisis. This response includes crime prevention, third-party- and self-regulation, and the threat of strong state intervention. Future research should explore the extent to which smart regulation reduces specific forms of white-collar crime and risk, as well as whether these interventions generalize to other transnational problems.     

How to mount a successful coup d'etat: Lessons from the Bible (II Kings 11, II Chronicles 23)

The process whereby queen Athaliah was deposed and replaced as monarch of Judah by the boy-king Joash in the seventh century bce warrants analysis as a typical 'coup d'etat'. The purpose of the present article is to interpret the relevant biblical narratives (II Kings II and 11 Chron. 23) in terms relevant to that political concept. Specifically, it posits that the organization and implementation of this highly successful coup can be illuminated by reference to modern political science literature on regime change. Thus read, the biblical records of the episode constitute a detailed 'how to' manual of political action.     

Band divided--the dispute surrounding the applications for the registration of 'Frankie Goes To Hollywood' as both UK and Community trade marks

Both the UKIPO and OHIM rule in favour of the opposition broughtby a group of reunited band members against an application bya sole former member to register the band's name as a trademark.