Voter responses to refugee arrivals: Effects of settlement policy

In this paper we leverage a sudden shift in refugee settlement policy to study the electoral consequences of refugee settlements. After the 2013 Norwegian parliamentary election, the newly elected right-wing government made a concerted effort to spread newly arrived immigrants across the country, with the consequence that some municipalities with limited experience in settling refugees accepted to do so. We propose that such policy changes have political consequences, increasing the salience of immigration issues and shifting voters’ preferences to the right. We further propose that successful refugee integration can move (parts of) the electorate to the left, with stronger political polarization as a possible effect of the policy change. Applying difference-in-differences techniques, we find no evidence of unidirectional shifts in voter sentiments, but support for the hypothesis of stronger political polarization.     

Institutional Arrangements and State and Local Financial Forecasting

Abstract

The articles in this symposium present various consequences that effectively result in changes from adopted budgets during the implementation phase, which derive from institutional structure. The institutional structures referred to include such attributes as internal policy, procedural methodology, longevity in office, and reward and incentive systems related to performance outcomes

For local governments, structural influences studied include changes in leadership in the executive and legislative branches, longevity in office of budget administrators, and differences related to mayor-council vs. council-manager forms of government. Internal policies reported on cover methodology used to forecast revenues such as quantitative methods versus informed judgment, budgetary controls and spending policy related to mandated spending beyond local government control, and procedures for benchmarking within the agency as well as with peer groups and professional standards.

Consortia of governments are referenced regarding performance evaluation as is the process for gaining consensus between the executive and legislative branches, including expert outside opinion. Other influences on performance outcomes reported on are those tied to the risk-reward system built in to the institutional structure, which includes risk tolerance of the individuals who make pension fund investments.     

地方政府行政审批制度改革的困境与对策——基于F市外经贸系统的实证考察

基于流程再造的研究视角,本文对F市外经贸系统中的行政审批事项、内部运营、跨部门与跨层级审批等状况进行了实证考察,指出当前地方政府行政审批制度改革中存在越减越肥与审批拖沓、简政放权中的统筹不足、重审批中的轻监管等问题。文章提出应从提升行政服务中心的窗口办理效能、搭建行政审批网络一体化平台、建立审改公众参与制度、建立审改绩效考评制度等四个方面来推进行政审批制度改革。     

新建地方师范院校促进教师教育一体化的思考

教师教育一体化涉及教师教育和教师专业发展各阶段的一体化、教师的专业发展目标及任务的一体化、教师教育内容和方法的一体化等。新建地方师范院校是教师教育体系的重要组成部分,对促进教师教育一体化具有诸多有利条件。新建地方师范院校可从确立办学定位、合理设计培养方案、调动利益相关者积极性、探索和创新教师教育一体化模式、加强教育科学研究等方面着手,促进教师教育一体化。     

当前地方政府奢侈浪费现象及其治理

艰苦奋斗的延安精神是我们党的传家宝,永远都不能丢弃。但是,当前我国一些地方政府领导干部的艰苦奋斗、勤俭建国意识淡薄,成本观念缺乏,导致许多如水电能源浪费、三公消费浪费、错误决策浪费、庆典祭祀浪费及会议评比浪费等浪费现象的发生。究其原因在于观念错位和规范缺失。因此,弘扬艰苦奋斗精神,树立现代行政观念;加快法制建设步伐,完善监督制约机制;健全并完善财政预算体制、绩效考核制度和行政问责制度;强力推进政务公开等,应成为遏制地方政府奢侈浪费现象的必然选择。     

重庆市司法区域划分制度研究

司法区相对于行政区而言，是司法机关行使司法权力的场域。科学合理地划分司法区有利于保障司法独立和司法公正。重庆市的地方司法区域在中国颇具代表性，研究重庆市的地方司法区域划分制度，有利于探索中国特色的地方司法区域划分模式。     

地方法治的理论与实践探求——兼评《地方法治建设的法理与实证研究》

《地方法治建设的法理与实证研究》是一部具有鲜明的实践导向的法学著作。面向实际的问题意识、现实定位的研究内容以及实证研究方法的运用,这一成果区别于＂坐而论道＂者的书斋学问。该书以来自地方法治第一线的实践素材为基础,描绘当下中国地方法治建设的真实图景,深刻揭示地方法治的内在规律和中国特质,其立足于中国法治现实的探索和创新之道为法学研究带来了一股清新之风,也为中国法学研究之方式和进路的完善提供了极具价值的经验样本。     

吉林省发展基金产业的可行性研究

基金产业作为实体经济发展的发动机,已经成为各个国家和地区金融业发展的重要方向。吉林省在东北亚地区所具有的政策优势、区域优势、产业优势和人才优势,决定了吉林省应率先发展基金产业,建立起东北亚地区基金总部基地、吉林省国际基金管理学院,成立基金行业协会、企业金融服务中心,不仅能拓宽吉林省企业的融资渠道,完善金融市场结构,而且有利于促进吉林省高科技成果产业化,提高经济增长的技术含量,推动经济增长方式的转变,促进自主创新国家战略的有效实施,具有重要的现实意义。