Academic literature on the topic 'Local government'

After reading the first few pages of this text, the reader may be left wondering "exactly what is this book attempting to accomplish?" At first glance, it looks like a college textbook. And indeed, Chapter 1 (Overview of Local Government in Korea) very much reads this way. After an introductory section in Chapter 2 (Structure of Local Government), however, the form of the book takes a dramatic turn. The Preface opens with a statement of the two purposes of the book, "first, to provide factual information about Korean local politics for those who are interested in Korea's system of local government; and second, to offer definitive reference resources to foreign scholars, students, practitioners, diplomats, and others who have an interest in the evolution of Korean democracy." Referring back to the Table of Contents after reading further in Chapter 2, one realizes that this is more of a "book of facts" than an analytical treatise. In this regard, the book is a solid success: it provides detailed facts about the legal structure of Korea's system of local government. It discusses the evolution and effect of Korea's Local Autonomy Act (and relevant decrees), and a translation of the lengthy Local Autonomy Act is included in an appendix. Clearly, the book is a useful reference on the law of local autonomy for those of us less than fluent in Korean. On the other hand, politics and democracy are hardly discussed beyond a few rhetorical platitudes in the first and last chapters.

In the period of 2018–2022 Polish government implemented the record number of programs for financial support of local governments. Their aim was to improve local services, maintain the high level of investments, aid in the fight against COVID-19 pandemics and rebuilding the economy, as well as equalising the potential decline of incomes related to the taxation reforms implemented since 2019. Programs on the record amount of 135,58 billion PLN helped to remain the investments on the earlier level, as the COVID-19 pandemics caused only temporary decline in own revenues.

The literature perceives governments’ websites as an effective tool for increasing information delivery, user interaction, and the government services’ supply, being the most visible aspects of citizens concerning public management. However, the interaction of citizens with governments is still unclear. The practical implications of conducting e-government, capable of expanding this relationship, are still invisible. This study aims to provide an understanding of how governments’ websites are used as an e-government tool in local governments, highlighting how e-government concepts have been empirically employed. The study takes a qualitative approach, examining five municipalities in a microregion in the Brazilian state of Bahia. We gathered the data using a triangulation process that included semi-structured interviews, analysis of the websites, and opinion questionnaires to the citizens. Our research shows that governments lack compelling actions and coordinated internal procedures, resulting in a gap between practice and digital governance policies, resulting in low citizens' participation, and unfamiliarity with government communication channels. The study contributes to the e-government literature by offering further insight into how people and organizations influence technology use, providing elements that can guide motivated public managers to increase relationships and communication with society. We highlight the need to investigate the phenomenon of digital transformation in governments at the organizational level.

This study investigates the effect of local government internal control systems on local government administration performance. We use secondary data from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Financial and Development Supervisory Agency, Indonesian Statistics Bureau, and respective local government financial statements and websites. We generate a set of panel data from 508 local governments during 2017-2019 with 1524 observations analysed with panel data regression. We evidence that several local governments still have low and medium administration performance in 2017-2019 that has not met the expectation of the Ministry of Internal Affairs as stated in the strategic plan in 2015. Our analysis provides empirical evidence that control environment, risk assessment, and information and communication positively affect local government administration performance. Our result provides implications to the Financial and Development Supervisory Agency to continuously optimise internal control system development programs in Indonesian local governments and the Ministry of Internal Affairs to have higher enforcement of local government administration performance achievement.

Indonesia passed an e-government law in 2018, ushering the country's society into the information age across a range of sectors, including social, economic, communication, transportation, literacy, and public services. This transformation has benefited enormously from the facilitation of information technology in terms of productivity, comfort, compassion, and time elapsed. Local governments in Indonesia, on the other hand, are slowing the adoption of e-government, which has progressed to the second stage of implementation, which is the introduction or integration of cross-sectoral systems. This article claims that local governments face challenges in this second stage as a result of departmental egos that make it difficult to unite around shared objectives. The whole government approach is suggested in this paper as a concrete policy strategy for eradicating sectoral egos within local government departments. It places a premium on collaboration in order to accomplish the government's vision and objectives.

Despite a highly centralised system of government, Tanzania, has attempted several measures aimed at achieving decentralisation of its immense powers to allow people to have a say on matters affecting their respective areas of jurisdiction. By discussing the autonomy of local government in Tanzania, this research will highlight whether or not local government in Tanzania has the autonomy to exercise its functions without undue interference from the central government. There is not much literature on the local government laws of Tanzania .Therefore, this research will contribute to the concept of decentralisation in Tanzania in particular and Africa in general.

Local government is one of three tiers of government that operate in Australia. This research investigates how marketing can be applied to local government in a holistic manner. To achieve this goal, theory needed to be reviewed and developed with one particular outcome being a model outlining the components of the marketing environments that need understanding prior to the application of marketing practice. Local government was selected as the context of this study as much is written about the marketing of not-for-profit, social and public sector organisations but the literature on the integration of these practices in a holistic approach for local government is very limited. Further local government has a major economic impact on the viability and longevity of many rural and semi-rural areas of Australia. Equally in the metropolitan areas, local government accounts for a considerable proportion of the employment and impact on growth and development of these regions. Traditional marketing theory has been found wanting in the local government area, as traditional marketing practices is being applied in a piecemeal approach. This practice has caused local governments to have conflicting messages and product offerings to the community. However the review of marketing derivatives theory shows that no one derivative addressed the scope of products and activities managed by local government. Reviewing these derivatives show that marketing core concepts are relevant to local government, but the complexity lies in the application of marketing where the components of added complexity were derived from the organisational focus, structure and target market definitions. The theoretical process to develop this understanding of local government marketing and to develop a proposed model for the application of local government marketing was derived from the literature relating to the core traditional marketing concepts and the marketing derivatives of public, not-for-profit and social marketing. This review of the literature aided in defining the complexities of local government marketing and helped found the preliminary local government marketing model. With the use of case analysis three local government cases were explored. The first case, a metropolitan local government, used convergent interviewing to determine the factors relevant to the development of the holistic local government marketing model. Confirmatory case analysis was used for the remaining two cases, one semirural and one rural, to refine the developing model. Ultimately, the model was confirmed in principle but minor changes were required to make the model robust across the three cases. From a theoretical perspective the research identified that the marketing derivatives used in the development of the local government marketing model were relevant and further sets local government apart from but integrated with the three derivatives studied. From a practical perspective the development of the local government marketing model goes some way to developing practices that are coordinated and integrated across the local government organisation, thus providing local government with the advantages of having an integrated local government marketing approach.

This thesis takes as its starting point the position that equal opportunities as a concept and practice have been conceptualised and operationalised inconsistently in local government (Nanton 1989, Young 1990, 1992, Bagilhole 1997). As a result the PhD investigated the appreciative contexts and ideologies that underpinned the assumptive worlds of those who influence policy and practice in sport in three local authorities in Northshire. Operationalising a critical ‘race’ standpoint (CRT) the study critically examined the views of senior officers and councillors in local authority sport utilising Young’s (1977, 1979) assumptive worlds framework. This research was based upon a two-phase investigation. The first phase involved a multi-site case study, which took place in North City, West Town and South City between 1996 and 1998. In a similar fashion to Stone’s (1988) single case study investigation into local authority equal opportunities strategies for women employees, they were intended to clarify and crystallise the everyday pressures and assumptions underpinning equal opportunities and ‘race’ within local authority sport. The agenda for the multi-site case study was to interrogate the values and assumptions that underpinned equal opportunities and race-equality for fifteen senior officers and nine councillors. In tandem with the local government case studies the second phase was an ethnography that involved an observation and analysis of the black sports pressure group VBES. The group was followed from its inception in 1996 until it became a significant agent within the sports policy network in Northshire in 2000. VBES contributed the black perspective from outside the local authorities. Consequently, Voluntary Black and Ethnic Sport’s links and associations over the years were a clear barometer of how effective equalities work was developing in specific authorities across the region. Three dominant themes emerged out of the study of the local authorities and evidence of them found expression in the activities of VBES. These themes were the conceptual confusion surrounding equal opportunities and race-equality, the policy tensions caused by individual appreciations and interpretations of policy, and the colour blindness that ignores wider issues of ‘race’. The themes aggregated to represent the core processes that affect each authority’s ability to effectively tackle race-equality in sport. Conceptual confusions, policy tensions and colour-blindness, that enwrapped the assumptive worlds of each authority, effectively led to policy implementation gaps between their promise and practice. The marginalisation of ‘race’ from mainstream provision has resulted in the ambiguity that Young (1990, 1992) warned against and in the lack of leadership that was the focus of Ouseley’s (1990) analysis. Ultimately there are issues that need to be managed in local government about how race-equality in sport is to be translated from policy to practice.

This study examined the factors that influence a local government’s decision to engage in regional collaborations. Analysis of 7 local government managers and eleven elected officials revealed that the decision to engage in regional collaboration was influenced by external factors, organizational factors, and internal motivations. Elected officials and local government managers identified a disaster occurrence, fiscal stress, outside agencies, jurisdictional benefit, and communication as key factors. Further, this research highlights the importance of the role of the elected official in intergovernmental arrangements, the role of the local government manager as the policy entrepreneur, and the influence of shared norms and values.

Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2003.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The research report investigates the theoretical foundation of the understanding of decision-makers at local government level of the term "development", with specific reference to local government as development agent and Local Economic Development. The choice of theoretical model by these decision-makers to conceptualise their understanding has historical and analytical antecedents, and secondly, the decision-maker is faced with a basic dualism in developmental thinking, ie. the emphasis on universalism (global competitiveness) on the one hand and the need for specificity (local economic development) on the other. The theoretical principles and assumptions on which the neoliberal and market-orientated approach to development is based are incorporated in the macroeconomic policy approach 'Growth, Employment and Redistribution' in South Africa. This approach has recently overshadowed the social welfarist developmental approach represented by the 'Reconstruction and Development Program' or Sustainable Human Development. The basis for specific policy formulation and intervention strategies are found in the theoretical assumptions, goals and objectives in each of these alternate approaches to development. The research design for the study is primarily qualitative. A semi-structured interview schedule is applied in directing in-depth interviews with identified central decisionmakers in metropolitan and larger "B" municipalities. The research design and process is constructed around three themes based on current and historic analysis of development thinking as a means to address poverty and inequality: theme 1 - theoretical understanding of the term development, Economic Growth in the formal sector versus Sustainable Human Development; theme 2 - the nature and relevance of participation by civil society in the Local Economic Development (LEO) process; and theme 3- Local Economic Development and the role of infrastructure investment, land use planning and zoning as intervention strategy. A benchmark position is developed on local government as development agent and LEO, using various sources, for example, interview with Director-General in the Department of Provincial and Local Government dealing with Local Economic Development, the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa and legislative acts and policy papers relevant to LED. This position is compared with the position held by local government decision-makers dealing with LED. The analysis of the information collected suggests that the theoretical perspective and policy framework on development, participation and strategies to address inequality and poverty, ie Sustainable Human Development (researchers title) held by the Department of Provincial and Local Government (DPLG) is not compatible with the definition and understanding of the majority of the decision-makers at local government level dealing directly with LED. The notion of participative development with anti-poverty strategies focussed on poor urban citizenry at the local level is not seen as the relevant theoretical or applied focus by developmental decision-makers at municipal level. In addition, limited knowledge is available to local government decision-makers on both formal and informal economic activity. In this regard, de facto leadership has already been handed over to formal-economy organisations and institutions. The idea of using land-use planning and zoning regulations to reorientate economic activity to low- and informal housing settlements and the reconstitution of low-and informal housing as sites of manufacture utilising flexible specialisation principles was positively received. However, the respondents were either not knowledgeable about these principles, for example; Globalisation of production and flexible production processes, or had not considered them in relation to their planning, land use or zoning and development functions. In the light of the above, the notion of local government as development agent with specific reference to addressing poverty and inequality utilising the Local Economic Development process as envisaged by the Department of Provincial and Local Government does not have the majority support of decision-makers at city and metro level. The majority of respondents defined the process of consultation as limited to formal economic sectors that were/could be competitive in the new global economy. The majority of decision-makers hold the view that the redefinition and location of sites of economic activity could be delegated to these formal sector organisations and institutions. Their common understanding of development and the related intervention strategies was based on formal sector growth and related job creation strategies, as well as the "trickle-down" of resources and opportunities to the informal sector. If they wish to remain relevant in this context the Department of Provincial and Local Government has to develop intervention strategies to reorientate and redefine the theoretical and applied definition of development held by the decision-makers especially with regard to Local Economic Development. If these issues are not addressed the form and shape of South Africa cities and metros will be based on the entrenchment and escalation of economic dualism and exclusion of the poor from any developmental decision-making and strategies. This has serious implications for the development of local democracies and developmental institutions based on the formulation and understanding of local conditions and circumstances of poverty and inequality and holds serious implications for social stability in the South African metros and municipalities in the future.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die navorsingsverslag ondersoek die teoretiese begronding van die begrip wat besluitnemers op plaaslike regeringsvlak het van die term "ontwikkeling "met spesifieke verwysing na plaaslike regering as ontwikkelingsagent en Plaaslike Ekonomiese Ontwikkeling. Die keuse van teoretiese modelle deur hierdie besluitnemers het historiese en analitiese voorlopers en tweedens, word die besluitnemer in die gesig gestaar deur 'n basiese dualisme in ontwikkelingsdenke, die klem op universalisme (globale kompeterendheid) aan die een kant en die behoefte aan spesifiekheid (plaaslike ekonomiese ontwikkeling) aan die ander kant. Die teoretiese beginsels en aannames waarop die neoliberale en markgeorienteerde benaderings tot ontwikkeling berus, word gei"nkorporeer in die makro-ekonomiese benadering "Groei, Werkverskaffing en Herverdeling" (GEAR) in Suid Afrika. Hierdie benadering het onlangs die sosiale welsynsontwikkelingsbenadering, wat verleenwoordig is deur die "Heropbou en Ontwikkelingsprogram" (HOP) of Volhoubare Menslike Ontwikkeling, in die skadu gestel. Die basis vir spesifieke beleidsvorming en intervensiestrategiee word gevind in die teoretiese aannames, doelwitte en doelstellings in elk van hierdie altematiewe benaderings tot ontwikkeling. Die navorsingsontwerp vir hierdie studie is primer kwalitatief. 'n Semi-gestruktureerde onderhoudskedule word toegepas am rigting te gee aan in-diepte onderhoude met geidentifiseerde sentrale besluitnemers in metropolitaanse en groter "B" munisipaliteite. Die navorsingsontwerp en proses is gekonstrueer rondom drie temas wat gebaseer is op huidige en historiese analise van ontwikkelingsdenke as 'n manier waarop armoede en ongelykheid aangespreek kan word: tema 1 - teoretiese begrip van die term ontwikkeling, ekonomiese groei in die formele sektor teenoor Volhoubare Menslike Ontwikkeling; tema 2 - die aard en relevansie van deelname deur die siviele samelewing en die Plaaslike Ekonomiese Ontwikkelingsproses (PEO); en tema 3 - Plaaslike Ekonomiese Ontwikkeling en die rol van infrastruktuurbelegging, grondgebruikbeplaning en sonering as 'n intervensie-strategie. 'n Beginpuntposisie word ontwikkel oar plaaslike regering en PEO deur gebruik te maak van verskeie bronne, byvoorbeeld, onderhoude met die Direkteur-Generaal in die Deparlement van Provinsiale en Plaaslike Regering gemoeid met Plaaslike Ekonomiese Ontwikkeling (PEO) , die Grondwet van die Republiek van Suid Afrika en wetgewing en beleidskrifte relevant tot PEO. Hierdie posisie word vergelyk met die posisie wat ingeneem word deur plaaslike regeringsbestuurbesluitnemers gemoeid met PEO. Die analise van die inligting wat ingesamel is suggereer dat die teoretiese perspektief en beleidsraamwerk oor ontwikkeling, deelname en strategiee om ongelykheid en armoede aan te spreek, die Volhoubare Menslike Ontwikkeling (navorserstitel) wat gehuldig word deur die Departement van Provinsiale en Plaaslike Regering (DPPR) nie versoenbaar is met die definisie en begrip van die meerderheid van die besluitnemers op plaaslike regeringsvlak wat direk gemoeid is met PEO nie. Die idee van deelnemende ontwikkeling met anti-armoede strategiee wat gefokus is op arm stedelike burgers op plaaslike vlak word nie deur die ontwikkelingsbesluitnemers op munisipale vlak beskou as die relevante oftoegepaste fokus nie. Bykomend is beperkte kennis tot beskikking van plaaslike regeringsbesluitnemers oor beide formele en informele ekonomiese aktiwiteite. In hierdie verband is de facto leierskap alreeds oorhandig aan formele ekonomiese organisasies en instellings. Die idee van die gebruik van grondgebruik- en soneringsregulasies om ekonomiese aktiwiteite tot lae en informele behuisingsnedersetfings te herorienteer en die hersamestelling van lae en informele behuising as plekke vir vervaardiging deur gebruik te maak van buigbare spesialiseringsbeginsels is goed ontvang. Die respondente was egter nie ingelig oor hierdie beginsels, of hulle het weggelaat om hierdie beginsels in berekening te bring by hul beplanning, grondgebruik of sonering en ontwikkelingsfunksies. In die lig van bogenoemde het die idee van plaaslike regering as ontwikkelingsagent met spesifieke verwysing tot die aanspreek van armoede en ongelykheid, deur gebruik te maak van die Plaaslike Ekonomiese Ontwikkelingsproses, soos in die vooruitsig gestel deur die Departement van Provinsiale en Plaaslike Regering, nie die meerderheidsteun van besluitnemers op staats- en metrovlak nie. Die meerderheid van die respondente het die proses van beraadslaging gedefinieer as beperk tot die formele ekonomiese sektore wat kompeterend was of kan wees in die nuwe globale ekonomie. Die meerderheid van hierdie besluitnemers is van mening dat die herdefiniering en plasing van plekke van ekonomiese aktiwiteite gedelegeer kan word aan hierdie formele sektororganisasies en instellings. Hierdie gedeelde begrip van ontwikkeling en verbandhoudende intervensie-strategiee was gebaseer op groei in die formele sektor en verbandhoudende werkskeppingstrategiee, asook die "afsyfering" van bronne en geleenthede na die informele sektor. As dit hul wens is om in hierdie konteks relevant te bly, moet die Oepartement van Provinsiale en Plaaslike Regering intervensiestrategiee ontwikkel om die teoretiese en toegepaste definisie van ontwikkeling, wat gehuldig word deur besluitnemers, veral met betrekking tot Plaaslike Ekonomiese Ontwikkeling te herorienteer en te herdefineer. Indien hierdie aangeleenthede nie aangespreek word nie sal die vorm en fatsoen van Suid-Afrikaanse stede en metros gebaseer wees op die verskansing en uitbreiding van ekonomiese dualisme en die uitsluiting van die armes van enige ontwikkelingsbesluitneming en strategie. Oit het ernstige implikasies vir die ontwikkeling van plaaslike demokrasie en ontwikkelingsinstellings gebaseer op die formulering en begrip van plaaslike toestande en omstandighede van armoede en ongelykheid en hou ernstige implikasies in vir die sosiale stabiliteit in die Suid-Afrikaanse metros en munisipaliteite in die toekoms.

This study examines the ways in which local authorities in England handle complaints from consumers of their services, and, in particular, looks at the extent of and use of internal complaints procedures. It is argued that complaints procedures are important because they are a part of a citizen's democratic entitlement, and that, as they are concerned with the resolution of the individual trouble case, they are a fit study for lawyers. Justifications are given for locating the study within local government, and the impact of organisational theory in this area is explored. Other methods of dealing with consumer complaints are examined, and it is concluded that, although councillors, the courts and the Local Ombudsman all have a role to play in this area, there is still a need for authorities to have internal complaints procedures. The major part of the study explores in detail the extent of authority-wide internal complaints procedures in local government in England. It justifies the use of these procedures, and compares the experiences of various departments within local government in relation to the use of departmental complaints procedures. In addition, there is more detailed study of social services departments and planning departments, not only in relation to complaints procedures, but also in relation to other practices which may reduce complaints. Authorities, in general, did not have well developed complaints procedures, and there was little evidence of their use as part of the managerial process. There were, however, some authorities with good practices, and there is evidence of change within local government, which is now recognising the necessity of taking complaints seriously.

Magister Philosophiae - MPhil
The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa entrenches the status of local government as a distinct sphere of government.1 In terms of section 40(1), the government of the Republic is constituted of three spheres, namely, the national, provincial, and local spheres of government. The local sphere of government has a constitutional mandate of ensuring the provision of services to communities in a sustainable manner.2 Furthermore, municipalities are required ‘to strive to achieve their mandate of the provision of essential services within their financial and administrative capacity.

This dissertation analyzes the influence of leadership, organizational, and environmental factors on stimulating local government innovations in China. The study employed 84 Innovations and Excellence in Chinese Local Governance (IECLG) award winners as the research sample. Local innovation leaders were surveyed and six local governments were selected for intensive case studies. The major conclusion of this study is that leadership level and environmental level variables play important roles in the adoption and implementation of local government innovations in China, while organizational level variables have little effect. The leadership variable "attitude toward innovation" and the environmental variable "public demand" bore the strongest relationship to the adoption and implementation of innovation while organizational variables such as "organizational formalization," "organizational centralization," and "organizational complexity" had little relevance for innovation. Other leadership variables such as "accomplishment," "competence," and "risk taking" and environmental variables such as "competition" demonstrate moderate importance in their influence on innovation. This dissertation represents an exploratory study of local government innovation in China and as such suggests ways to conduct more extensive, in-depth research.

This research examines the critical role of digital government evolution in enhancing the performance of local governments through smart governance concepts. Focusing on Indonesia's transformative journey, the research highlights the government's adoption of the Electronic-based Government System (SPBE) to tackle inefficiencies, bureaucratic hurdles, and corruption. Jambi City, actively participating in the 100 Smart City Movement, is investigated as a specific case study on smart governance dimension. Employing qualitative methods, the research aims to uncover insights into the challenges of digital transformation at the local level. Despite facing regulatory barriers and resource constraints, the study identifies opportunities for success, particularly through stakeholder collaboration and public-private partnerships. This research carries substantial implications for policymakers, practitioners, and academics interested in the intersection of technology and government in developing nations.

The focus of this study is to examine the relationship between autonomy and effectiveness of local government in Nigeria. The administrative structure for local governance has always existed in one form or the other since colonial period. However, the poser is how autonomous are they as a unit of government and to what extent are they effective. This study relying on available secondary data, adduced that local governments have constitutional responsibilities, its autonomy is greatly eroded by other higher tier governments, and that lack of autonomy impedes its effectiveness. Way forward suggested include, constitutional reforms, limited role for both state and federal governments and financial autonomy for effectiveness. Keywords: Local government, Autonomy, Effectiveness, Efficient-service, Decentralization

The focus of this study is to examine the relationship between autonomy and effectiveness of local government in Nigeria. The administrative structure for local governance has always existed in one form or the other since colonial period. However, the poser is how autonomous are they as a unit of government and to what extent are they effective. This study relying on available secondary data, adduced that local governments have constitutional responsibilities, its autonomy is greatly eroded by other higher tier governments, and that lack of autonomy impedes its effectiveness. Way forward suggested include, constitutional reforms, limited role for both state and federal governments and financial autonomy for effectiveness. Keywords: Local government, Autonomy, Effectiveness, Efficient-service, Decentralization

Main questions of this study are “How much autonomy?” and “Has autonomy take to feudalism?” Although the resolution of issue according to effective, efficient, rational and fair principles about the income distribution between the central administration and the municipalities is a precondition of permanent and efficient services of local governments.This study aims to identify regional goverments tasks and improve services of central governments with taxes (VAT) distirbution method. We also aim to increase taxes that are collected from regional governments with the method of glocalization. In addition, if sharing criteria was different, it would how a change between the years 2003-2011 will be investigated. During the comprehensive analysis of these years with public revenues on the basis of VAT, local government’s expenditure, criteria/data to be applied in the share of public revenues to municipalities whether changing the method financing of municipalities can make local governments more efficient and productive will be explored. In a political structure that municipalities are financed from the center, it is very difficult to find an appropriate combination between equality and justice in the distribution of income. Local governments must have privileges which is proportionate with responsibilities on own mandates and source of income for producing to serve as an effective and efficient local services. The results show that if the central governments give budget to regional government according to taxes that are collected in this region, productivity of taxation increase and regional government can collect taxes easier.