Political accountability,fiscal conditions and local government performance—cross‐sectional evidence from Indonesia

Why are some local governments more successful than others in managing resources and delivering services? And even more vitally, how can malfunctioning governments be reformed so that they perform their responsibilities more effectively? This article contributes to our understanding of theses overarching questions by exploring the interactions between political institutions and public sector performance in the context of decentralisation and local governance. It shows–both theoretically and empirically–that performance outcomes are determined by the extent to which people can hold their governments accountable through political institutions. The basic hypothesis underlying this research is that political accountability, either by encouraging sanctions upon non‐compliant public agents or simply by reducing the informational gap regarding government activities, will create forceful incentives for elected officials and civil servants to reduce opportunistic behaviour and improve performance. Using a cross‐sectional regression the hypothesis is empirically tested against evidence from newly empowered local governments in Indonesia. The empirical findings broadly support our hypotheses. Improved public services on the ground, both in terms of quantity and quality, require informed and well functioning decision‐making processes that allocate resources to priority areas that meet the demand of the broader community. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

略论知识经济与学报编辑工作

２１世纪是知识经济的世纪,知识经济强调产品和服务的数字化、网络化、智能化,它更是人性化的经济。知识经济给学报编辑工作带来诸多挑战,使之须在知识经济理念的指导下,在人才培养、学报内容、编辑手段和体制等方面进行思想和行动上的创新,以推动学报编辑工作的发展。     

社会主义市场经济保卫战是新时期公安工作的重要主题

社会主义市场经济保卫战是新时期公安工作的重要主题,是公安机关的龙头工作,是掌握新形势下治安主动权的必由之路。社会主义市场经济保卫战既是重大的理论创新,也是具有革命性意义的重大治安举措。要有效地实施社会主义市场经济保卫战,必须处理好理论与实践、整体与重点、战略与战术、目的与手段的关系,强化创新意识、效益意识、公安产业意识和本领意识。     

近期的印尼经济形势与政策调整

印尼经济经过1998年严重衰退后,从1999年和2000年开始缓慢走向复苏,但复苏的道路依然漫长。2001年印尼经济仍会增长,估计基本维持去年5％左右的水平,但不排除发生意外的可能。如果印尼再次发生政治和社会危机,印尼经济又将跌入危机的深渊。在印尼经济恢复的过程中,政治起着非常关键的作用。     

新经济时代中国电子商务的现状及发展前景

在经济全球化背景下,新经济是以信息技术革命带动的、以高新科技产业为龙头的知识经济.新经济具有低失业、低通货膨胀、高增长的特点.作为新经济的组成部分,电子商务是IT技术涉足经济领域与网络经济发展的产物,是各国经济增长的强大动力.我国正处于电子商务发展的初级阶段,在网络基础设施、信用体系、物流配送、网络安全、法律制度等方面都需进一步加强和改进,以适应新经济发展的要求.     

网络经济与网络政治

随着网络在全球的发展,网络经济和网络政治成为当前的一个热点.如何把握网络政治的脉搏、发展和利用网络政治成为当前需要迫切解决的问题.     

加强贵州民族法制建设促进民族地区经济发展

本文对贵州民族法制建设的发展情况作了简要的分析和总结,并指出其存在的不足,为健全和完善贵州民族法制,促进贵州民族地区经济的发展,提供参考性的建议.     

对加强非公有制组织中党团和工会组织建设的思考

加强非公有制企业的党团及工会组织建设 ,是做好非公有制经济人士思想政治工作的重要一环。在非公有制经济发达的地区建立党的工作委员会已成为必须。统战部门要切实做好这方面的工作 ,引导非公有制经济企业健康发展。     

西安非公有制经济参与西部大发展的思路

西部大开发、西安大发展应有新的思路。大力发展非公有制经济是推动西部大开发、西安大发展的一支非常重要的力量,它对国有经济的战略性调整有着十分重要的作用。放手并支持非公有制经济参与国有企业的改革,为其创造宽松的发展环境,无疑会极大地促进西安经济的良性发展。     

Experiencing Globalization: Active Teaching and Learning in International Political Economy

This article explores the teaching and learning challenges for the discipline of international studies (IS) that arise from the contemporary social, economic, and political changes usually labeled "globalization." The focus is upon the challenge posed to IS by a transformation in the nature of the relationship of teachers and students to the subject matter that they study: that is, teachers and students increasingly experience and contribute to globalization in the course of their daily lives as they simultaneously teach and learn about it. Significantly for the study of globalization in IS, pedagogical debates surrounding active teaching and learning highlight the potential for strategies that actively engage students' interests and everyday experiences with the subject itself. On this basis, the article outlines some potential routes into the active teaching and learning of globalization in the field of international political economy, illustrating these with examples from classroom activities and exercises.