Modelling the relationship between counter‐knowledge and open‐mindedness for policy development

Counter‐knowledge refers to flaws in citizens' mental models arising from utilization of rumours, inappropriate knowledge structures, outdated routines or procedures. When counter‐knowledge is applied to civil servants, it may result in problems of efficiency, equity and motivation. This paper examines the relationship between counter‐knowledge and open‐mindedness to model a framework for improving city marketing and policy development. This study tested two measurement models. While the theoretical model represents the effect of counter‐knowledge on city marketing and that the latter has a negative effect on open‐mindedness, the alternative model involves that counter‐knowledge has a positive indirect impact on open‐mindedness. These relationships are examined through an empirical investigation of 203 Spanish city halls. The results show a potential positive indirect effect of counter‐knowledge on open‐mindedness through city marketing programmes. This paper clarifies the existing literature, which tries to contribute to the discussion of city marketing, and helps us to obtain meaning out of the relationship between counter‐knowledge, city marketing and open‐mindedness. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Can Political Inequalities Be Educated Away? Evidence from a Large‐Scale Reform

Over the years, many suggestions have been made on how to reduce the importance of family background in political recruitment. In this study, we examine the effectiveness of one such proposal: the expansion of mass education. We utilize a difference‐in‐difference strategy to analyze how a large school reform launched in Sweden in the 1950s, which lengthened schooling and postponed tracking, affected the likelihood of individuals with different family backgrounds to run for public office. The data come from public registers and pertain to the entire Swedish population born between 1943 and 1955. The empirical analysis provides strong support for the view that improved educational opportunities for individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds can be an effective means to reduce the social bias of elected assemblies.     

Evaluation of Four Fingerprint Development Methods for Touch Chemistry Using Matrix‐Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization/Time‐of‐Flight Mass Spectrometry,

Four preparation techniques for MALDI/TOF mass spectrometry were compared to determine the ability to gather intelligence for investigations through the chemical analysis of latent fingerprints, defined as “touch chemistry.” Compatible fingerprint development processes used for identification along with new techniques are necessary to evaluate touch chemistry. Ten volunteers deposited fingerprints from solvent residues containing drugs and explosives onto microscope slides. The developers included (A) fingerprint powder, (B) MALDI matrix, (C) fingerprint powder and lifting, and (D) cyanoacrylate fuming with fingerprint powder. Qualitative identification was based on ion images and spectra. The highest average detection rates (88%) were found using methods A and B. Methods C (52%) or D (18%) had limited success. Results demonstrate the importance of imaging coupled to extracted mass spectral data in detecting analytes in deposited fingerprints. Overall, the results suggest continued development of touch chemistry applications could prove useful for gathering intelligence and forensically relevant information.     

The Economics of Disaster Relief

We distinguish among three types of actions that can be taken to alleviate the consequences of natural disasters: precautionary efforts (made ex ante), relief efforts (made in the immediate aftermath of a disaster), and recovery efforts (made ex post). We argue that recognizing this distinction lessens many of the problems that the literature attributes to government intervention and hence expands the scope of government action following disasters. Relief is less likely than recovery to generate over‐supply by the government and over‐reliance by victims.     

Thou Shalt Not Flip Flop: Senators’ Religious Affiliations and Issue Position Consistency

Is there a relationship between legislators’ religious affiliations and the consistency of their voting records? Building on the theory of “the personal roots of representation,” we argue that a legislator's likelihood of switching positions depends on whether the issue is central to their personal values. We evaluate this claim using a data set including senators’ religious affiliations and “culture war” votes from 1976 to 2004 and find that different religious groups vary in their voting consistency on issues such as abortion, public prayer, and gay and lesbian rights.     

Iati‐Onkwehonwe: blood quantum,membership and the politics of exclusion in kahnawake∗

The decades since the 1970s have seen an ‘explosion of interest’ in the concept of citizenship, both as means to elucidating the compromises over demands of justice and membership which underlie communities and feed into definitions of citizenship, and the increasing instability of those communities and ideals in the modern era. While there have been as many contexts of the negotiation of citizenship as there are nations (whether real or imagined), within Canada some of the most intriguing discourses around belonging have occurred within First Nations. This article is an attempt to elucidate the struggles over citizenship and membership within one Canadian Aboriginal community, the Mohawk Nation at Kahnawake. Here, intertwined with issues of blood, ‘Indian status’ and entitlement, Kahnawake has been riven by contests over the meaning of ‘belonging’ and who should belong in this First Nation.     

La gestion axée sur les résultats: Comparaison des cadres de gestion de huit juridictions

Au cours des deux derniéres décennies, plusieurs gouvemements ont voulu réformer leur administration publique en mettant en place un cadre de gestion axée sur les résultats. Jusqu à tout récemment, la documentation scientifique n'abor‐dait que trés peu ce théme et, outre les travaux de l'OCDE, le concept de gestion axée sur les résultats et son contenu n' avaient pas été définis. Nous avons donc voulu éla‐borer une définition générique de la gestion axée sur les résultats et comprendre la façon dont elle s'intègre à différents aspects de la gestion des organisations. Pour ce faire, nous avons exploré le cadre de gestion proposé par les réformes mises de l'avant dans huit juridictions. Les pays et provinces canadiennes choisis ont une approche‐type de gestion anglo‐américaine, soit le Canada, le Québec, l'Ontario, l'Alberta, les États‐Unis, l'Australie, le Royaume‐Uni et la Nouvelle‐Zélande. Les modèles étudiés présentent plusieurs similarités. On observe que la gestion de la performance dans ces juridictions se déploie dans des cycles de gestion composés de plusieurs étapes. Les éléments communs de ces cycles sont la planification stratégique, la planification opérationnelle, la réalisation des plans et des programmes, la mesure ds résultats, la reddition de comptes et l'analyse et l'interpréta‐tion des résultats. Ces processus se concrétisent par la publication de documents. Par ailleurs, ces cadres de gestion ont tendance à s'intégrer aux autres enjeux de la gestion des organisations tels que la qualité du service à la clientèle, la gestion des res‐sources humaines et financières et la vérification. Abstract: Over the last two decades, several governments have wanted to reform their public administration by implementing a results‐based management framework. Until very recently, the scientific literature hardly addressed this issue and, other than the OECD work, the concept of results‐based management and its content had not been defined. We therefore wanted to develop a generic definition for results‐based management and to understand how it fits into various aspects of organizational management. To do so, we explored the management framework put forward through reforms introduced in eight jurisdictions. The countries and Canadian provinces chosen, i.e., Canada, Quebec, Ontario, Alberta, United States, Australia, United Kingdom and New‐Zealand, use the typical Anglo‐American management approach. The models considered have several similarities. We found that performance management in those jurisdictions was implemented throughout several steps of management cycles. Common elements in these cycles include strategic planning, operational planning, plan and program delivery, results measurement, accountability, and results analysis and interpretation. The process is documented through published documents. Moreover, these management frameworks tend to become part of the other organizational management components, such as quality of customer service, management of human and financial resources, and auditing.