Provision Of Basic Public Services Research Articles

Digital economy and institutional dynamics: striving for equitable public service in a digitally transformed era.

The rapid emergence of China's digital economy has sparked profound interest in the complex interplay between digitalization and the provision of public services. This study aims to delve deeper into how the development of the digital economy impacts the level of equalization in public service delivery and evaluates whether institutional factors can moderate this transformation. Against the backdrop of pursuing "common prosperity," this research provides valuable guidance for policymaking and strategic planning. It ensures that the ascent of the digital economy not only elevates the standards of public services but also fosters their equitable distribution, thereby advancing the cause of social equity. The study utilized the System Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) model along with longitudinal trend data spanning from 2009 to 2018. This approach facilitated an in-depth analysis of the relationship between the digital economy and the level of equalization in public service delivery. The application of this model provided deeper insights into the impact of the digital economy on public service equalization and the identification of underlying mechanisms. This study reveals a complex paradox that the digital economy is exacerbating regional disparities in the provision of basic public services. Furthermore, the research underscores the pivotal role of institutional environments in mitigating the adverse effects of the digital economy on public service provision. By examining the interplay between digital economy growth and institutional frameworks, the study suggests that adaptable and robust institutions are essential for harnessing the digital economy's benefits while minimizing its potential drawbacks. In conclusion, the findings from this study offer substantial insights into the dual impact of the digital economy on public service provision, enriching the ongoing discourse on digital transformation and social equity. The research underscores the significance of strategic policy reforms and institutional adjustments to harness the transformative power of the digital economy, promoting equitable access to public services and advancing the goal of "common prosperity" in the digital age.

Conceptual Framework – Sustainability Actions, Global Crises and Justice in the Future of Tourism and Hospitality

The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic posed a big obstacle for nations as it affected the anticipated cash flows from the tourism and hospitality industry. Many tourist destinations have suffered as a result of the coronavirus disease 2019 crisis. Tourism and hospitality have been major source of revenue, and nations depend on them to augment their budgetary issues and support the provision of basic public services. Ethical tourism, responsible tourism, social justice, and sustainable tourism promise to be effective tools to execute this reputation agenda, which scholars have ignored. This paper proposes a conceptual framework that shows the effect of sustainability actions and justice on stakeholders in the tourism and hospitality industries, presently and for future generations. An in-depth literature review was employed using papers on sustainability actions. Using Scopus-indexed journals, 88 articles from several databases were sourced using key words. The conceptual framework provides insights into how global crises such as coronavirus disease in 2019 can be used as a gate to launch social justice in the tourism and hospitality space for employees, local tourism communities, tourists, and stakeholders globally. It provides academics and practitioners in the tourism and hospitality sectors with a fairer perspective on the development of strategies to attract tourists and better investment initiatives.

Do they feel like they don’t matter? The rural-urban divide in external political efficacy

Rural areas have often been labelled by the literature as ‘left-behind’ areas or ‘places that don’t matter’, implicitly suggesting that residents of these communities feel neglected by political elites. This article studies the rural-urban divide in external political efficacy, which reflects individuals’ beliefs about the responsiveness of political elites, while also examining if compositional and contextual factors can explain such a divide. Drawing on data from the European Social Survey, the results reveal a significant rural-urban gap in external efficacy, which is partly explained by differences in the sociodemographic characteristics of rural and urban dwellers, but not by disparities in their evaluation of the provision of basic public services. Notably, this rural-urban gap in external efficacy is substantively smaller in those countries with higher levels of electoral malapportionment that lead to an overrepresentation of rural areas in national parliaments.

Twinning arrangements and service delivery in Zimbabwe’s local authorities: The case of Bulawayo City Council (Zimbabwe) and eThekwini Municipality (South Africa)

The Zimbabwean local government environment has been affected by chronic defects in the provision of basic public services. As such, city twinning has been adopted as one of the strategies to address the impasse in service delivery as it allows for the sharing of expertise in local governance, development, strategic international relations and the enhancement of service delivery in local authorities. Using the exploratory case study research design the study explores the impact the twinning arrangement between Bulawayo City Council (BCC) and eThekwini Municipality and how it has enhanced service delivery in Bulawayo. Data was gathered from written documents, observations and in-depth interviews. The study established that the BCC-eThekwini cooperation has been very fruitful and Bulawayo City Council has benefited immensely through the exchange of ideas and information as well as technology transfer among others from this twinning arrangement. Nonetheless, it was also observed that weak legal and financial frameworks hinders the city twinning partnership from realising its full fruition. The study concluded that city twinning between BCC and eThekwini is a favourable route for creating sustainable South to South linkages that benefit developing cities. As recommendations, the article argues that there is need for clarity in defining the partnership roles and goals, community involvement as well as an enabling policy and institutional environment.

Blockchain Impact on the Efficiency of Public Administration in the Sphere of State and Municipal Services

State and local governments have stepped up research on innovative approaches to the provision of basic public services. The purpose of this study is to determine the blockchain impact on the efficiency of public administration in the sphere of state (municipal) services.The study illustrates the advantages and problems of blockchain on the example of its application and implementation in government bodies at various levels with an analysis of international experience. According to international experience, new technologies can improve the efficiency of service delivery, therefore, this study appeals to the importance of supportive policies for improving the results of using blockchain in the sphere of public administration of state (municipal) services.In the end, the authors determined that the introduction of blockchain in the sector of state (municipal) services, on the one hand, has several advantages (cost reduction, immutability (minimization of the risk of losing documents), elimination of intermediaries (network decentralization), distribution of information storage (lack of a single center vulnerability), openness of transactions and demonstration of innovative potential), on the other hand, several problems (the problem of trust and security, invasion of privacy and violation of constitutional rights, inequality in access to technology, changing legislation in accordance with new technologies, slow and costly implementation process).

Re-Engineering Public Service Delivery in Africa Post COVID-19

Re-Engineering Public Service Delivery in Africa Post COVID-19 James Shikwati (bio) Public service delivery in Africa is not meeting the demands and needs of the citizens. Research prior to the COVID-19 pandemic shows that African citizen's satisfaction with the provision of basic public services appears to have diminished over the last decade. This indicates that governments are not meeting public demand in areas such as health, education, justice, and safety and security. The Ibrahim Index of African Governance (IIAG) indicates progress in overall governance performance on average in Africa. Unfortunately, it demonstrates a concerning trajectory, with measurable declines in the provision of core public services, such as education.1 According to the report contributor, Afrobarometer, 12.7 percent of people surveyed in 2014–2015 stated that it was "very difficult" or "difficult" to obtain the services needed from teachers or school officials.2 With Africa's population set to double by 2050, efficient public service delivery in this area is vital to the continent's ability to deal with new challenges in the future. As of December 13, 2020, Africa had reported 1,606,252 COVID-19 cases and 24,000 fatalities according to World Health Organization estimates.3 The COVID-19 pandemic put public service delivery around the world in focus, particularly in Africa, because of inherent general system inefficiencies.4 The public service sector is a recent phenomenon in Sub-Saharan Africa's nation-states. Now sixty years old, the sector is a legacy of European colonialism and far younger than Asian societies whose bureaucratic traditions predate those of Western countries. Many scholars have conducted quantitative studies on the performance of service delivery and how governments can ensure effective service delivery. Achieving efficient and effective service delivery is a cardinal pillar in the act of governance through relevant Ministry Department Agencies (MDAs).5 Criticism over public sector expenditures on service delivery led to the drafting of the New Public Management (NPM) concept in 1982. The concept embraces new innovations such as managerialism, market-based governance, entrepreneurship, and reforms that bring about effective and efficient delivery of welfare, social, and essential services. The NPM was discussed as a major trend towards a politically neutral movement out to6 ensure efficiency, effectiveness, and accountability in infrastructural development and social/welfare services. Governments of emerging and developing economies are still searching for new ways of improving public sector efficiency. A departure from traditional public administration to public management model will impact the way the public sector operates in terms of service delivery.7 Key questions on accountability, measurement of public service outputs and the role of elected officials remain of topical concern.8 Despite the continent's young public sector, reengineering it to rely upon digital technology in response to the COVID-19 pandemic offers great promise. The COVID-19 factor in public service delivery The abrupt and brutal disruption by the COVID-19 pandemic has thrown the public service and its work force into a frenzy, forcing them to fight the pandemic's spread and manage its [End Page 206] accompanying socioeconomic fallout simultaneously. Corruption cases involving the pilfering of donor funds, procurement procedures, and overpricing of tools meant to fight the pandemic have dealt a major reputational blow to both governments and public service in general.9 While the pandemic catapulted public servants onto the frontlines, it also put the public servants and service under scrutiny in terms of accountability on both data and management of funds. Funding, management of resources, transparency, and accountability are major issues in public service delivery. Developing countries with weak governance institutions face a greater challenge of fund misalignment. Governments tend to fund the wrong goods—funds end up in private use rather than public and wrong target—service to rich people rather than poor people.10 It behoves government to be accountable to the entire citizenry as opposed to a few stakeholders. Peters (2001) notes the importance of equality and accountability for finances and responsibilities. Government is expected to ensure prudence, fairness and accountability in public service delivery.11 Dehn (2002) observes that while existing institutions of accountability overemphasize accountability for finance and fairness, they undercut performance and the...

The fiscal cost of the provision of basic public services, subsidies for expenditure on food and basic citizen income per household in Costa Rica, Guatemala and El Salvador during the COVID-19 pandemic: An expenditure analysis

The objective of this article is to estimate the fiscal costs, using income and expenditure surveys, of the provision of basic public services (electricity, water, telephone and internet) for the 40% of the population with the lowest incomes, the provision of a subsidy of 50% of actual food expenditure for the 40% of the population with the lowest incomes and the provision of a basic income per household equivalent to the value of the poverty line for households under the poverty line in Costa Rica, Guatemala and El Salvador during the COVID-19 pandemic. These fiscal options are a fundamental component of any public health strategy against the COVID-19 considering they give economic viability to the population during the isolation and mobility restrictions period and financial support during the economic and social emergency. The results show that the fiscal costs of the provision of basic public services to 40% of the population with the lowest incomes or other fiscal measures considering less ambitious targets are heterogeneous between these Central American countries because of previous conditions and public policies but are reasonable and possible to cover under the actual circumstances.

The fiscal cost of the provision of basic public services, subsidies for expenditure on food and basic citizen income per household during the COVID-19 pandemic: An expenditure analysis

The objective of this article is to estimate the fiscal costs, using income and expenditure surveys, of the provision of basic public services (electricity, water, telephone and internet) for the 40% of the population with the lowest incomes, the provision of a subsidy of 50% of actual food expenditure for the 40% of the population with the lowest incomes and the provision of a basic income per household equivalent to the value of the poverty line for households under the poverty line in Costa Rica, Guatemala and El Salvador during the COVID-19 pandemic. These fiscal options are a fundamental component of any public health strategy against the COVID-19 considering they give economic viability to the population during the isolation and mobility restrictions period and financial support during the economic and social emergency. The results show that the fiscal costs of the provision of basic public services to 40% of the population with the lowest incomes or other fiscal measures considering less ambitious targets are heterogeneous between these Central American countries because of previous conditions and public policies but are reasonable and possible to cover under the actual circumstances.

FACILITADORES E BARREIRAS NA INTEGRAÇÃO ENTRE PLANEJAMENTO E ORÇAMENTO DE DEFESA NA MARINHA DO BRASIL

Visando permitir um olhar para o futuro, em relação a um ambiente em mutaçõesconstantes e a demandas crescentes, cada dia mais complexos, as organizações públicascarecem de ferramenta para conduzir suas atividades em direção ao atendimentode sua finalidade social. No campo da defesa, tal necessidade é ainda mais latente,haja vista a dificuldade do cidadão em perceber quais as reais necessidades em sedespender recursos com forças armadas. Levando-se em consideração o cenáriobrasileiro, carente na prestação de serviços públicos básicos, como saúde e educação,a situação é ainda mais nebulosa. Neste contexto, o planejamento estratégico mostrasefundamental, porém palavras em papel somente não bastam, pois é necessáriaa sua efetiva implantação. Portanto, este trabalho investigou a integração entreplanejamento e orçamento, tendo atenção especial à área de defesa, com escopona Marinha do Brasil (MB). O objetivo desta pesquisa é estabelecer um quadroteórico-normativo que permita especificar facilitadores e barreiras no processode entrelaçamento entre planejamento e orçamento de defesa, no que tange àMB. Os resultados da pesquisa permitiram o levantamento de três categorias defacilitadores, quais sejam: estrutura normativa desenvolvida; estrutura administrativaespecializada; e sistema gerencial de planejamento orçamentário implantado, e de
 barreiras, divididos em incrementalismo; cortes e contingenciamento orçamentário;e cultura organizacional de planejamento orçamentário enfraquecida.

The fiscal cost of the provision of basic public services, subsidies for expenditure on food and basic citizen income per household in Costa Rica, Guatemala and El Salvador during the COVID-19 pandemic: An expenditure analysis

The objective of this article is to estimate the fiscal costs, using income and expenditure surveys, of the provision of basic public services (electricity, water, telephone and internet) for the 40% of the population with the lowest incomes, the provision of a subsidy of 50% of actual food expenditure for the 40% of the population with the lowest incomes and the provision of a basic income per household equivalent to the value of the poverty line for households under the poverty line in Costa Rica, Guatemala and El Salvador during the COVID-19 pandemic. These fiscal options are a fundamental component of any public health strategy against the COVID-19 considering they give economic viability to the population during the isolation and mobility restrictions period and financial support during the economic and social emergency. The results show that the fiscal costs of the provision of basic public services to 40% of the population with the lowest incomes or other fiscal measures considering less ambitious targets are heterogeneous between these Central American countries because of previous conditions and public policies but are reasonable and possible to cover under the actual circumstances.

Spatial feature analysis of rural basic public service supply based on TOPSIS model and Data aggregation algorithm

The provision of basic public services in rural areas is a necessary condition for promoting farmers, agriculture, and rural development, and has important economic effects. The supply of basic public services in rural areas has an impact on agricultural growth, rural poverty reduction, and farmers’ production and investment, and ultimately directly or indirectly affect farmers’ income and consumption. In order to effectively improve the effectiveness of providing basic public services in rural areas, this study takes rural basic public services as the research object, and analyzes the economic and geographic perspectives, models, and algorithms of supply effectiveness through a literature review. It was found that the research area level needs to be deepened, and the shortcomings of traditional models and algorithms were also found. This article will make full use of the TOPSIS model’s methodological advantages in comprehensive ranking, combine the entropy method with the TOPSIS model, and sort the evaluation objects by approaching the optimal solution, so as to more objectively evaluate the rural basic public service supply in the sample counties. Based on the data aggregation algorithm, with the help of spatial analysis methods, Gini coefficient, and Theil index to further study the spatial distribution characteristics of supply. The research shows that the method has good performance and can be used as a reference for the subsequent related research rural basic services theory.

The Gift of Volunteering

Foreign aid to southern Africa has triggered the growth of a nonprofit sector that increasingly provides welfare and social support for needy populations. However, largely absent from research on this sector are substantive analyses of the contribution of voluntarism and interpersonal exchange to broader welfare development and social cohesion. This paper employs theories of gift exchange to analyze volunteer practices and localized interpretations of volunteering within the welfare structure of post-colonial Pretoria, South Africa, and Lusaka, Zambia. The analysis of ethnographic data pertaining to within- and between-group volunteering reveals particular patterns of “gifting,” which enable many southern Africans to overcome social divides, to strengthen existing bonds, and to fill gaps in the provision of basic public services. We conclude that volunteering succeeds as a form of welfare distribution precisely because of how actors frame their efforts as a gift—ensuring enduring social-relational dynamics and continued social service delivery.

Politics and Public Service Provision in Africa’s New Democracies

In developing democracies with fledgling institutions, the provision of basic public services is often deeply political. In this paper, we investigate the effect of one political driver of basic service delivery: the degree of partisan affinities among voters. We argue that strong partisanship undermines public service delivery in at least two ways: first, it reduces public officials’ incentive to exert effort in providing quality basic services to citizens; second, it weakens accountability of frontline service providers. Data from a UNICEF project in Ghana provide strong support for this argument. We find that the quantity and quality of basic public services is significantly lower in strongly partisan districts. Initiatives like the UNICEF project that gather and publicize information about governments’ service delivery performance could potentially enhance basic service provision in these contexts. Public awareness is likely to pressure poor performers to improve; awareness among citizens may also spur collective action to demand better services from their governments.

In a state of slum: governance in an informal urban settlement in Ghana

ABSTRACTOld Fadama in Accra, Ghana, is a vast informal settlement. A legalistic approach by successive governments has meant a near-absence of statutory institutions and the emergence of alternative public authorities. These endeavour to provide the area with a range of basic public services to solve the area's serious developmental challenges. Through processes of informal negotiation residents establish rights and social contracts that underpin and define what will constitute ideas of state and law. At the same time, self-governance emerges while relations with statutory institutions shift back and forth between vilification, tacit acceptance, and productive cooperation. The article contributes to studies of governance in informal urban settlements on two fronts. First, it shows how informal arrangements lead to the provision of basic public services and influence the workings of formal institutions of government. Second, it challenges facile understandings of large-scale informal settlements as generally chaotic, lawless or subversive.

Basic public services and the restructuring of the public finance system in China

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the financing and provision of basic public services in China. The main issue addressed is how to reform the public finance system to achieve quality and fairness in the provision of basic public services. Design/methodology/approach Based on an historical analysis of the functional transformation of the public finance system in China and on an empirical analysis of the current public finance system and the public service provision system, a comprehensive understanding was gained about the relationship between the financing and provision of basic public services. Findings The paper argues that there is a close relationship between the provision of basic public services and the functional changes made to the public finance system. Based on a systematic retrospective study of the Chinese Government’s efforts to improve basic public services over the last three decades, this paper offers policy suggestions on further public finance restructuring that would support better service provision. Originality/value By analyzing issues in the public service provision system, this paper contributes to the debate about the efficiency improvement made to governmental functions in China.

The Dynamics of Failing Service Delivery in Nigeria and Ghana

This article compares the quality of service delivery in Nigeria and Ghana in the areas of healthcare, food provision and access to clean water and sanitation. Its first finding is that public service delivery in the two countries has been perceived as inadequate and deteriorating for over a decade. Therefore, this paper concludes that Nigeria and Ghana are lagging behind in the provision of basic public services for their citizens and need to re-orient their service delivery. Governments in sub-Saharan countries are working with donor agencies at the forefront of combating poverty through a number of interventions to improve the delivery of public services. Notwithstanding these good intentions, few results have been achieved so far, especially considering the massive investment made in attempts to reduce poverty in this region.
 The outcomes of this research suggest a strong relationship between household satisfaction and problems experienced in service delivery in these areas. They also show that satisfaction with public service delivery involves more than government performance. Political, geographical and demographic factors are also important predictors.

Public–public partnerships in Urban water provision: The case of Dar es Salaam

AbstractAcross the global South, urban residents have come to play a much greater role in the provision of basic public services through a variety of government–community partnerships. Often referred to as public–public partnerships (PuPs), such arrangements are thought to be essential to ensure that services are efficient, equitable, sustainable and responsive to the needs and interests of heterogeneous communities. This paper draws on original research and secondary data to analyse the strengths and limitations of PuPs with respect to water provision in contemporary Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. It explores two ways that community‐based organisations (CBOs) have become partners in the delivery of water and draws attention to the external support received by the most successful community partners. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

National solid waste management plan for Iraq

After decades of turmoil and international sanctions much of the key civil infrastructure within Iraq has fallen into disrepair, leading to a considerable decline in the provision of basic and essential municipal services. This is particularly true of waste and resource management services that have seen years of underdevelopment and deterioration. This has resulted in a lack of provision of basic public services in the waste sector which have been replaced by a burgeoning unregulated informal market in waste collection, disposal and recycling. In response, a National Solid Waste Management Plan (NSWMP) for Iraq was developed in 2007, to plan for the strategic development of all aspects of waste management in the country over the coming 20 years. In particular, the NSWMP focuses on policy development and integrated planning regarding regulatory framework, economic aspects, institutional capacity, citizen and technical education, and technical and operational development. This paper summarizes the key objectives, challenges and subsequent recommendations contained in the NSWMP for Iraq.

Child malnutrition and mortality in China and Vietnam in a comparative perspective

Under the traditional socialist central planning system, economic growth in China and Vietnam was unstable and not very satisfactory. Yet, both countries achieved a remarkable progress in the area of human development. Later, under the market socialist model, China and Vietnam achieved very high rates of GDP growth, and malnutrition declined significantly. Yet, income distribution and the provision of key public services deteriorated in both countries. Progress in reducing child mortality in China was relatively slow, before improving in the early 2000s. Although Vietnam is much poorer than China, and has been growing less fast, its record in this area was markedly better. We show that this apparent paradox is due mainly to the fact that the negative side-effects of market-oriented reforms have reached a more advanced and alarming stage in China than in Vietnam. Our results also suggest that an additional factor is constituted by a relatively better status of women in Vietnam with respect to China. However, we also warn that signs are emerging in Vietnam too, indicating that it is entering a stage of development where the social problems now evident in China are starting to manifest themselves on a large and worrying scale. Our policy conclusions advocate in favour of re-establishing (in a new form, compatible with the maintenance of the economic dynamism of the market socialist system) some positive features of the pre-reform socialist model, among which universal public provision of basic public services is paramount.