Role Of Central Government Research Articles

Port expansion and public-private partnership: the case of Rotterdam

The role of public authorities in the development of infrastructure is evident. Increasingly, private parties show interest in infrastructure projects, The relationship between public and private parties can take various shapes. From a theoretical point of view, four models of co-operation between public and private parties are discussed, The realisation of the second Maasvlakte, a large scale port expansion in Rotterdam, will serve as an example. The project started in the early 1990s as a traditional (unilateral) port planning procedure. Private involvement enters the picture for the f~st time in 1998, A constructing f~ container handling company and financial institution launched the Binnenmeerplan, This innovative private initiative introduced the concept of a phased construction of the second Maasvlakte, Simultaneously, the Dutch government carried out a study project and the Combination model, which incorporates both the objectives of public parties and of the business community was developed, The Combination model can be perceived as a breakthrough because it demonstrates that solutions for problems such as existing planning procedures and EU directives can be found, Albeit the enthusiasm from both parties was overwhelming, the government exchanged the Combination model for the Parallel model. In this model, the role of central government is restricted to spatial planning and land use, regional and local government will act as project developer. At the moment two arguments in the discussion prevail: innovation and risk sharing. Therefore, parts of the project will be put on tender: Design Build Finance and Maintain (DBFM)-arrangements for the dikes and Build Operate and Transfer (BOT)-contracts for the terminals, However, it is at least doubtful whether BOT-contracts will work in the Hamburg - Le Havre range.

Fiscal Decentralization: Its Impact on Cities Growth

Indonesia currently adopts a new decentralization policy. In the past, central government had been the major role of regional and cities development. With the new policy, central government has transferred its role in developing cities and regions to the local governments. This policy adopts two complimentary laws. Law No.22/1999, which is basically the devolution policy, has been accompanied by Law No.25/1999, which basically is the fiscal decentralization policy. Both laws reflect that decentralization policy in Indonesia has adopted the concept of "money follows functions".Before the implementation of decentralization policy, the government of cities had been benefited from many facilities built by central government on the city area. With the decentralization policy, it is expected that a reduced role of central government will have a significant impact on the growth of cities in Indonesia. The policy has three major fiscal instruments; a block grant funding, a specific grant and revenue sharing. The block grant funding is considered as the most important instruments of fiscal decentralization in Indonesia. About 80 percent of financial transfer from central to local governments will be in the block grant type of transfer. In the past, the use of transfers was determined by central government specifically. Therefore, the role of block grant was very minimal. With the new fiscal decentralization scheme, the benefits of cities from central government investments are expected to decrease. Therefore, there is a question to what extend the cities will be sustainable in the decentralization era.This paper attempts to answer the impacts of current fiscal decentralization policy on the growth of the cities. The first objective of the paper is to evaluate the current intergovernmental tranfers and their impact to cities revenues. Secondly, by utilizing a regional macroeconometric model, this paper also elaborates the implication of the transfers to the city growth and interregional disparity in Indonesia.

The experience of setting health targets in England

Background: This paper presents an analysis of the English experience of setting and monitoring targets during the 1990s. It draws on two studies of the former national public health strategy, ‘Health of the Nation’ (HOTN). Methods: the two evaluations conducted 16 case studies between them, two in each health region in England. Over 250 individual and group interviews were conducted and over 400 documents were analysed. In eight health authorities, an analysis of expenditure was also carried out to determine what impact, if any, HOTN had on resource allocation. Results: Full results are published elsewhere. Lessons for the new strategy are as follows: i) the role of central government is key in ensuring that there is a consistent message across government in support of the health strategy and in fostering the development and dissemination of an evidence-base for public health, ii) The new strategy needs to address the underlying social and structural determinants of health and health inequalities directly, iii) Both studies found widespread support for targets as a helpful way to prioritise and focus efforts. However, national targets must be credible i.e. based on sound and convincing evidence. The development of local targets needs to be encouraged, and process targets should supplement outcomes locally and nationally, iv) The new strategy needs to be communicated widely – to broaden ownership outside the National Health Service, and include the public, v) To sustain momentum and ensure effective implementation, the strategy must be embedded in the performance management framework for health and local authorities, vi) Partnerships between key local agencies to work together for health need to be encouraged, either via a statutory framework or with other incentives. Discussion: The new English strategy, ‘Saving Lives’, is outlined in relation to the development of targets. The wider issues of a target-based approach to health policy include: i) Importance of distinguishing between the objective to ensure that policy is directed towards the achievement of health outcomes, and monitoring progress to ensure that health policy objectives are being achieved, ii) The role of targets as an inspiration as well as or instead of a management tool, iii) A target-based health policy should: set targets which are realistic, achievable and challenging; involve stakeholders; link targets to implementation; consider technical issues e.g. small numbers, availability of data; be based on evidence; express targets in terms of health improvement, iv) Target-based health policies should avoid: perverse incentives; distortion of data; too many targets; target setting without resources, v) The experience from England provides lessons for other European countries introducing a target-based approach to health policy.

Health care systems in transition III. India, Part I. The Indian experience.

Indian society is distinguished by marked cultural pluralism and a relatively young population that in 1999 has grown to one billion. Its regional and economic diversity and complex social structure and extremes of poverty and wealth make planning a challenging task. Developing economic self-reliance tackling poverty and building a strong welfare state were major commitments of the newly independent India. After 1949 a conscious effort was made to invest in education and health services. Constitutionally health services were the responsibility of the provincial states. The role of central government was to define policies provide a national strategic framework financial resources and specified services such as services for people crossing international borders and medical education. In the 26 States and two Union Territories districts were the operative units wherein the population of about 1.3-1.5 million was served by a network of Primary Health Centres (PHCs) and sub-centres organized as a pyramid with the district hospital at the apex. Health sector planning had two major thrusts: the first to build an infrastructure to provide basic medical care maternal and child health (MCH) services health information education and referral services; and the second to develop specific national health programmes to control communicable diseases provide family planning services (FPSs) and control severe forms of nutritional deficiencies. To carry out these tasks a support system had been developed which included education and training research health information and monitoring drug and equipment production etc. (excerpt)

The role of central government and its agencies in the continuing professional development of teachers: an evaluation of recent changes in its financing in England

The introduction in November 1997, by the Teacher Training Agency (TTA) of a competitive bidding process for the funding of in-service education and training for teachers (INSET) in England is, in the judgement of the authors, likely to have a significant impact, not only in terms of the quality and quantity of in-service education and training available to teachers, but also in raising fundamental questions about the role of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in that provision. The authors consider the growth and development of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) since the passage of the 1988 Reform Act and argue that the creation of the TTA in 1995 signalled a paradigm shift in relationships between HEIs, local education authorities and central government. Concern is raised that recent changes in the funding process have been to the detriment of the balance of supply and demand at the local level and in the longer term will bring about a reassessment of the role of Higher Education in both the initial training and the continuing professional development of teachers.

Development of SSI Sector and Women Entrepreneurs: Role of Central Government

Development of SSI Sector and Women Entrepreneurs: Role of Central Government

Central Steering And Local Networks: Old‐Age Care In Sweden

Recently, some European social scientists have claimed that the old legal‐bureau‐cratic model of administration has been replaced by a new paradigm in public administration, characterized by a strong emphasis on collaboration in local inter‐organizational networks. The proponents of this policy network approach take a clearly voluntaristic view on policy implementation; network actors build consensus in negotiation processes, and the role of central government is restricted to that of goal‐setter, facilitator and mediator. Thereby, phenomena like power and steering are overlooked. This paper gives an account of a major Swedish reform in the area of old‐age care, whereby the boundaries between regional and local areas of responsibility for care of the elderly were displaced. By using a variety of control methods, central government was able to structure and steer the old‐age implementation networks. The consequences of this central steering were different on different administrative levels: for the county councils, the reform has resulted in a specialization for the core areas of primary health care and hospital treatment, whereas the municipalities have had to diversify their areas of activity. Thus, to understand the effects of the reform, implementation networks must be viewed as both hierarchical and horizontal power structures, where national government, from a hierarchically superior position, can affect formally horizontal relations between actors by creating patterns of interdependence. Central government’s steering has taken on less direct forms than the traditional ones, but indirect forms of steering can certainly be efficient, especially when several mutually reinforcing control methods are combined.

Eu Programmes and the Evolution of Local Economic Governance in the UK

Empirical analyses of the activities and perceptions of a broad range of local authorities confirms the view that recent years have witnessed two key changes in local economic governance in the UK. First, the privileging of business interests by both European and domestic policy agendas has offered the private sector a far greater role in local regeneration partnerships. While there are doubts about the ability or willingness of businesses to make a meaningful contribution at the local level, the neoliberal agenda which has dominated policy making at the European level has had an important influence over the overall size and shape of the EU's structural funds. Second, local regeneration strategies have become increasingly dependent on EU programmes. This has provided the European Commission with greater influence over regeneration strategies in particular enabling it to encourage regional alliances between authorities. However, the overall pattern of local authorities' activity suggests that this has not led to the radical realignment of central-local relations envisaged by theories of multi-level governance. The strong 'gatekeeper' role of central government has meant that EU programmes have usually taken on a distinctly British flavour and that both the vertical and horizontal partnerships which have emerged in the UK have reflected a particular interpretation by central government of the principles embodied in the structural fund regulations. Very few British local authorities expect, or even aspire, to influence EU policy agendas. Current patterns of local economic governance in Britain are therefore best seen as the product of an increasingly fragmented European polity in which the power of local authorities has declined, the European Commission's influence has grown but central government has been able to retain a dominant position.

Sustainable transport: the role of the bus in the post‐competitive market

The bus is the most viable form of urban public transport and has to play a major role in the delivery of sustainable transport objectives. It cannot do so under current models of operation and legislation outside London. Quality Partnerships are not the answer. This paper looks at and contributes to the debate about alternative models. It analyses the attributes needed for such models but does not recommend the final model form. It starts from the premise that the bus market is rapidly consolidating, with attendant effect on competition. Indirect or push variables are more effective than direct or pull variables in mode switch from car to bus. Central government has a crucial role in delivering Marginal Cost Equalization. Fuel duty increases have applied to bus and car, so there is no equalization at the margin. Comparison of the models in and out of London shows that both have had similar effect on unit cost, extra mileage and reduced subsidy but are different in terms of changes to passengers and passenger revenue and how the net effect is shared between society and bus operators. It is argued that, as maximizing profit and passengers is different, fare and service level need control and public investment in bus priority should not leak into higher profits. Positive feedback is needed between higher bus use and revenue and investment in further measures to increase use. Demand management measures, such as increasing car‐park charges, have a political cost; this political price may be willingly paid to achieve transport objectives but not to boost operators’ profit. Comparison is made with rail where Marginal Cost Equalization is delivered and fares and service are regulated. The role of central government as a third partner with bus operators and local government is emphasized. If profits are judged to be excessive, such as Railtrack in the July 1997 budget, windfall taxes may be justified, but regulation to keep the money in the transport industry may be a better way forward. This paper was prepared whilst the White Paper was being consulted on, but is published between the White Paper and the parliamentary Bill. If the White Paper has not addressed all the issues raised here, it is hoped that readers persuaded of their validity may try to influence the drafting of the Bill and amendments during its progress through Parliament.

Globalization and Decentralization: Institutional Contexts, Policy Issues, and Intergovernmental Relations in Japan and the United States

ForewordR. Scott Fosler and Shinyasu Hoshino Globalization and Decentralization: An OverviewJong S. Jun and Deil S. Wright Part I: Institutional Contexts Introduction 1. From Dual to Coercive Federalism in American Intergovernmental RelationsJohn Kincaid 2. Intergovernmental Relations in Japan: Historical and Legal Patterns of Power DistributionFukashi Horie 3. Innovative Policies and Administrative Strategies for Intergovernmental Change in JapanHiromi Muto 4. Remapping Federalism: The Rediscovery of Civic Governance in the United StatesDeWitt John, Alex Halley, and R. Scott Fosler 5. Emerging Regional Organizational and Institutional Forms: Strategies and Prospects for Transcending Localism in the United StatesJohn Kirlin 6. Understanding Regional Administration in Japan: Dynamism in Stability and Continuity in ChangeTakashi Nishio Part II: Public Policy Issues Introduction 7. The Roles of Central Government and Local Government in Japan's Regional Development PoliciesNaohisa Nagata 8. Public Infrastructure, Capital Investment, and Economic Development in the United StatesBruce McDowell 9. The Tokyo and the Development of Urban Issues in JapanAkira Nakamura 10. Metropolitan Growth and Development in the United States: Human Problems and ProspectsRalph Widner 11. Service Integration Revisited and Reinvented: The Strategic Role of Schools in Human ServicesAstrid Merget and William Colman 12. Social Welfare Issues in Japan: Meeting the Needs of an Aging SocietyAkira Morita 13. Perspectives on Intergovernmental Relations in Japan: The Problem of Solid Waste ManagementKatsumi Yorimoto 14. The Interstate Transport of Solid Waste: Intergovernmental Tensions and the Conflict Between Law and PolicyRosemary O'Leary and Paul Weiland 15. Fiscal Disparities in the United States: Concepts, Trends, and PoliciesRobert Rafuse 16. The Politics of Local Government Finance in JapanYoshio Kobayashi Part III: Internationalization and Globalization Introduction 17. State and Local Boundary-Spanning Strategies in the United States: Political, Economic, and Social Transgovernmental InteractionsJohn M. Kline 18. Technology Transfer from Iowa to Japan: Internationalization and the Quality of Life in Rural AreasKazunori Ishiguro 19. Japanese Local Government in an Era of Global Economic InterdependencyShinyasu Hoshino 20. The Domestic Consequences of Internationalization: Emerging Conflicts Enid Beaumont

Scrutiny and Direction: Implications of Government Intervention in the Development Plan Process in England

This paper examines the role of central government in the development plan process in England and the implications of government intervention through two case studies. There is a brief introduction to the stages of plan preparation as a pretext for discussion. The two case studies involved Directions from the Secretary of State for the Environment to the Islington and Bolton local planning authorities. In both cases, the Direction was issued after the plan preparation procedures at the local level had been completed. The implications for the development plan process vis-a-vis the role of the development plan in guiding local development and the role of public participation and public inquiry in the preparation of development plans are discussed.

The Role of Central Government in Tax Competition Between Heterogenous Regions

This paper analyzes the role of central government in a Nash tax competition between two heterogenous regions, which differ in their endowments of two production factors. Regional governments use a source-based unit tax on mobile capital to finance their public service expenditures. The central government employs excise subsidies and lump-sum taxes to induce the two regions to efficient resource allocations. We answer to the question that whether the central government can induce an efficient equilibrium, and investigate the effects of endowments difference on the optimum subsidy rates. We find that there exists a unique tax rate under which the efficiency is achieved. We identify the set of endowment allocations for which the subsidy rate to one region is higher (or lower) than the subsidy rate to the rival. The large poor region receives a higher subsidy than the small rich region, but the subsidy to the small poor region may be higher or lower than that to the large rich region. [H2]

Lisbon: Strategic planning for a capital city

The article examines the role of central government, regional plans and city plans which comprise the institutional framework for urban planning in Portugal. Particular attention is focused upon the strategic planning process adopted for Lisbon, currently being promoted by that municipality as the Atlantic capital of Europe. A number of strategic planning issues facing Lisbon are examined within the context of European urbanization, including urban growth, transport, housing, economic development and urban conservation/regeneration. The article assesses the current attempts by the city to implement a strategic plan for the capital, and comments on its future prospects. Considerable attention is currently focused upon Lisbon given its recent role as European City of Culture in 1994, and the urban regeneration initiatives associated with Expo 1998. Expo offers the possibility of improving and integrating the eastern side of the city with its central area and waterfront. The project is also linked to the construction of the new River Tagus bridge crossing. The article concludes that Lisbon has a clear sense of purpose and direction as a major European city

Political aspects of the attempts to reduce tobacco consumption

The health effects of cigarette smoking first became known in 1950 with the results of research by Doll and Hill (1950). Since that time Central Government's role in the control of tobacco in the UK appears to have been tempered by political and financial considerations. In the years since 1950, the prevalence of cigarette smoking has changed and is now concentrated in specific social groups. Government policy documents, 'The Health of the Nation' (1992) and 'Scotland's Health: A Challenge to us all' (1992)' identified a target level for reducing the population of smokers to 20% of adults by the year 2000. The strategies to achieve this target are examined, as are previous attempts to reduce smoking consumption in the UK.

European funding in action – a Merseyside experience of RECHAR

Examines in depth the practical realities and difficulties of initiating and sustaining a major tourism development project which is intended to further economic regeneration and job‐creation and is funded in partnership with the European Union. The financial framework of the scheme, the “Hotties” in St Helens (Merseyside), is provided by the European Structural Funds including the RECHAR Initiative. The contribution of the European Regional Development Fund and the European Social Fund are also evaluated. In addition the purportedly complementary role of central government is addressed, through the Urban Programme and City Challenge schemes. Two fundamental issues emerge as crucially governing outcomes: the precise structure and nature of the complex public/private partnerships involved; and vexed problem of “additionality”, which remains an unresolved matter. Clearly demonstrates the urgent need for far greater integration and co‐ordination of public policy and the rationalization of the application and implementation procedures.

Tsetse flies and their control

The authors use a quantitative modelling framework to describe and explore the features of the biology of tsetse flies (Glossina spp.) which are important in determining the rate of transmission of the African trypanosomiases between hosts. Examples are presented of the contribution of previous research on tsetse to quantified epidemiological and epizootiological understanding, and areas of current ignorance are identified for future study. Spatial and temporal variations in risk are important (but rarely-studied) determinants of the impact of trypanosomiasis on humans, domestic animals and agricultural activities. Recent grid-based sampling surveys to Togo provide valuable data sets on tsetse, cattle and trypanosomiasis throughout the country. A combination of ground-based meterological and remotely-sensed satellite data, within linear discriminant analytical models, enables description of the observed distributions of the five species of tsetse occurring in Togo, with accuracies of between 72% (Glossina palpalis and G. tachinoides) and 98% (G. fusca). Abundance classes of the two most widespread species, G. palpalis and G. tachinoides, are described with accuracies of between 47% and 83%. This is especially remarkable given the relatively small differences between the average values of the predictor variables in areas of differing fly abundance. Similar analyses could be used to predict the occurrence and abundance of flies in other areas, which have not been surveyed to date, in order to plan tsetse control campaigns or explore development options. Finally, some recent tsetse control campaigns are briefly reviewed. The shift of emphasis from fly eradication to fly control is associated with a devolution of responsibility for control activities from central government to local areas, communities or even individuals. The future role of central governments will remain crucial, however, in determining the areas in which different control options are practised, in facilitating control by local communities and in protecting controlled areas from re-invasion by flies from other areas.

Government involvement in New Zealand tourism: A public choice perspective

The theoretical model of “public choice” is applied to the New Zealand tourism situation in order to evaluate the role of central government in providing tourism-related goods, services and amenities. Public choice theory provides a number of rationales for government involvement in the provision of certain goods, as well as explanations where government roles exceed what would normally be expected using the theory. A framework is developed for assessing the role of government in tourism generally. This framework is then applied specifically to the New Zealand situation. Some preliminary conclusions are drawn about the utility of public choice in analysing the provision of tourism-related goods.

The Position of Music in the Technical and Vocational Education Initiative (TVEI): a Critical Appraisal

Now in its ninth year, the Technical and Vocational Education Initiative (TVEI) has a complex history, marked by lively debate about the value and purpose of education itself, and about the role of central government in educational reform. At first seemingly unrelated to the arts, the scheme has gradually come to have a chequered impact on them. Whereas many music teachers have not been at all affected, others have been deeply involved. For them, it has brought distinct, sometimes radical innovation in both the form and content of the curriculum.

Strong or Weak State? The Case of Danish Agricultural Export Policy, 1849-1906

Recently Amanda R. Tillotson argued in an article in Comparative Politics' that Danish development towards modernization can be explained in terms of a theory focusing on role of the central government as an active participant in process, a participant that sought to advance relatively consistent core goals with constraints imposed by changing structure of municipal institutions and by shifting division of political and economic power among nations.2 I shall argue that, in so far as Denmark's development after 1849 (when it became a constitutional monarchy) is concerned, analysis offered by Tillotson regarding role of Danish central government can be questioned. Instead, Danish development can be understood better as based on a proliferation of associations of different kinds, an explicit renunciation of state intervention in most agricultural affairs, and a negotiated intervention in a few. The central government, therefore, was not a very active participant in this case; consequently, a strict statist distinction between state and society is difficult to maintain. In addition, statist approach may block from researcher's view what was going on in civil society. The discussion below is meant to indicate that distinction between state and society may be right under certain circumstances, but less fertile in others. The problem for researcher, then, is to determine circumstances--in this case for Danish state in second half of nineteenth century. This is where I take issue with analysis offered by Tillotson.

Dix ans de décentralisation française : éléments de bilan

Ten years after the decentralization laws were adopted by the French Parliament, the once-and-for-all effects of the changes introduced have had time to work themselves out and the observed evolutions can safely be assumed to reflect the permanent functioning of the French system of local goverments in their new institutional environment. The present paper reviews some of the major consequences of the reforms, mostly on local public finance. It stresses the potential dangers of a system in which, due to the disproportionate share of some taxes and to the important role of central government in financing, locally elected authorities may well not be «accountable» enough. In addition, the equalization properties of existing inter-governmental grants seem much too limited compared to the tendencies, inherent in the current system of local finance, to strong polarization of economic development and to geographic segregation of population according to income levels.