Is a problem shared a problem halved? Shared services and municipal efficiency

It has long been argued that shared services represent an efficacious means of securing efficiencies for municipalities. Indeed, pressures from fiscal austerity, taxation limitations, and the specter of forced amalgamations have resulted in an increasing uptake of shared service arrangements. However, the extant evidence is rather inconclusive and is largely restricted to analyzing the nett efficiency outcomes for the specific service shared. We broaden this evidential base by examining the association between shared service production and the efficiency of entire municipalities. Our analysis, employing a 5‐year panel of data, suggests that shared services are associated with a statistically significant reduction in overall municipal efficiency. We conclude by explicating on the public policy implications arising from our prima facie surprising results.     

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.     

垂直管理体制的行政法研究

垂直管理体制,作为我国政府行政体制改革进程中一种重要的机构组织形式和调节中央与地方关系的常态手段,其运行属于行政组织法规制的内容。垂直管理部门的设立与变更,以及垂直管理机构与上级职能机构和地方政府的关系应当在法律规范的框架内运行。对于垂直管理的模式,应当有相关法律法规或者是规范性的文件进行指导,并对其进行后续行政监督。     

地方政府借贷监管体系构建的国际经验与启示

政府监管是解决市场失灵的一种有效机制。尽管世界各国的政府监管模式各有不同,构建的背景和内容也有所区别,但都是基于以矫正和解决市场失灵为目的而建立的。当下我国正处于转轨时期,虽然设立了相应的政府监管机构,但不论是理念还是职能上都偏重于传统意义上的监管,与现代意义上的监管还相差甚远。加之当前我国的市场经济体制还不健全,政府的管理理念与发展方式还保留着计划经济时期的传统,法制环境还不完善。因此,如何把我国传统的政府监管转变为现代意义的政府监管就显得尤为重要。这不仅能提高政府的监管能力,建立独立、公开、透明的现代监管体系,同时还是健全和完善市场经济体制,融入经济全球化进程的必然要求。     

Governing concept or political buzzword? Contested perceptions of local control

This article uses a perceptions-based framework to study how local governing actors define local control, and, to identify the determinants of definition alignment among local officials. A mix of survey and administrative data from Wisconsin officials is used to test nine hypotheses. The results indicate there is wide variation in how local government leaders define local control, and that alignment on the concept's meaning is predicted by ideology, perceived erosion of local control, and positional characteristics. The study concludes that local governments should incorporate a working definition of local control in planning and on-boarding processes in order to provide governing relevance to the concept.     

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.     

Managing Social Risk in China Local Administration: An Examination of SSRA Initiative

Social Stability Risk Assessment (SSRA) sponsored by the local administration is perceived as a socially defined risk-coping initiative since it became mandatory in China. This article observes and unravels SSRA practices by selecting Xuzhou municipality as a sample case. Findings show that local SSRA is operated by the tridimensional mechanism and antecedents of its effectiveness in enforcement are linked with multiple elements of administrative supports. The findings contribute to a full understanding of SSRA in mainland China where there is no electoral democratic regime, and provide implications for developing countries alike. Some recommendations are proposed as a potential driver of these results.     

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。     

韩国地方政府绩效管理实践及其对中国的启示——以富川市构建平衡计分卡系统为例

近年来,韩国在运用平衡计分卡改进地方政府绩效管理实践上成效显著。富川市是在韩国构建平衡计分卡系统的标杆组织,其经验对平衡计分卡的中国化具有以下几点启示:要明确引进平衡计分卡的目的;要提高公务员对平衡计分卡系统的认识水平;要以培养内部专家为主;对新的绩效管理体系的开发不急于求成;指标的设置要力求真实反映国情民意及地区之间的差异;实施完整的变革管理程序;要谨慎处理公民参与评价的程度。