Public Citizens Research Articles

Exploring the direct and indirect relationships between policing and citizen satisfaction in South Korea

PurposeThe author explored the direct and indirect relationships between policing and citizen satisfaction, considering both the policing and neighborhood context at the regional level.Design/methodology/approachThe author conducted regression and path analysis based on the combined data of 190 local governments from the Korean National Police Agency, the Korean Crime Victim Survey and Statistics Korea.FindingsPatrol officers, a public safety budget, criminal arrests and perceived safety were positively associated with citizen satisfaction, whereas drinking rate was negatively associated with citizen satisfaction. The arrest rate partially mediated the relationship between the public safety budget and citizen satisfaction. In addition, the relationship between drinking rate and citizen satisfaction with police was partially mediated by perceived safety.Practical implicationsPolice and local governments should enhance citizen satisfaction by improving poor indicators of policing and neighborhood context and by considering the dynamics between factors.Originality/valueStudies analyzing the mediating effects on citizen satisfaction with police are still lacking.

Digitalization of public sector organizations over time: The applicability of quantitative text analysis

In recent decades, public organizations have undergone significant changes related to digitalization. These changes are the result of multiple, varying influences, such as external institutional feedback. The issue of digitalization feedback development in public organizations opens the discussion on how to study digitalization over time. In this article, we consider whether the method of quantitative text analysis can be used to observe the same administrative trends in digitalization as found using other methods and data sources in existing research. After conducting a co-occurrence analysis of documents from the Norwegian Customs Agency (NCA) over a period of 20 years, we found that the NCA's digitalization-related language changed in this period and that user feedback was the most frequently emphasized kind of external feedback. These observations are consistent with the literature, which shows that the use of co-occurrence methodology to study public administration has a positive role in future research. Points for practitioners Quantitative text analysis is an effective method to observe administrative trends. Findings of the study corroborate with previous research showing that current administrative trends emphasize collaboration between public organizations and citizen participation as central development features of digitalization of public organizations. The co-occurrence analysis has some limitations and needs to be further improved to develop theory and identify new areas of public administration digitalization.

Populist disruption and the fourth age of political communication

This paper argues that understanding populism as a communicative process and contextualising its modern forms in relation to our current political communication environment improves our understanding of how it grips citizens. The paper identifies the disruptive communicative practices of modern populist politicians as characteristic of a digital media-dominated fourth age of political communication in extension of Blumler's account. It explores the reaction of the current wave of populism against institutional norms of political communication and its recognition and construction of a perceived disconnect between public representatives and citizens. The paper identifies three aspects of modern populist communication that, through this oppositional positioning, erode institutional communication in the fourth age: a populist pragmatics of disruptive symbolic action, an ontology that sees directness as the only means of breaching the divide between appearance and reality in politics, and an epistemological stance that replaces expertise with authenticity. These constitute an injection of grassroots communicative forms into institutional politics. The result is the exposition but also deepening of the lopsided efficacy of the fourth age whereby citizens feel inefficacious in relation to institutional politics but increasingly able to participate at a grassroots level.

Civil Societies v. Nation States in Problem Solving and Mediation

Civil societies are simply informal, voluntary, self‐organized communities of people. They consist of the spontaneous, unofficial, social, economic, political, cultural, and environmental activities and relationships of people who interact informally alongside the formal, involuntary, hierarchically organized state—yet remain private individuals and public citizens whose lives are largely independent of it.

REFLECTION GOOD NAME AND CORRUPTION BEHAVIOR IN INDONESIA FROM PROVERBS 22:1

This study investigates the relationship between maintaining a good name and the prevalence of corruption behavior in Indonesia. By conducting an exegetical analysis of Proverbs 22:1, which emphasizes the value of a good name, the research explores its relevance to the issue of corruption in the Indonesian context. The research explores the socio-cultural significance of a good name in Indonesian society and its impact on individual and collective behavior. It examines the perception of integrity and the role of reputation in shaping ethical conduct among public officials, business leaders, and citizens. The study also reviews existing literature, case studies, and empirical evidence related to corruption in Indonesia. Drawing insights from Proverbs 22:1, which states that "A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold," the research highlights the moral and spiritual dimensions of reputation and their potential influence on mitigating corruption. The findings provide valuable insights into the relationship between a good name, ethical behavior, and the prevalence of corruption in Indonesia. The study emphasizes the importance of fostering a culture of integrity, accountability, and transparency to effectively combat corruption. It also offers recommendations and strategies for individuals, institutions, and policymakers to promote and uphold a good name in the Indonesian context, to reduce corruption and its detrimental effects on society. This study contributes to the existing literature on corruption and ethics by examining the significance of a good name in addressing corruption behavior in Indonesia. It serves as a foundation for further research, policy development, and initiatives aimed at promoting integrity and combating corruption in the country.

ОСНОВЫ ПРАВОВОГО РЕГУЛИРОВАНИЯ ВЗАИМОДЕЙСТВИЯ СОТРУДНИКОВ МВД РОССИИ И ГРАЖДАН В СФЕРЕ ОХРАНЫ ПРАВОПОРЯДКА И ОБУЧЕНИЯ БЕЗОПАСНОСТИ: ОПЫТ И ПРОБЛЕМЫ

For more than a decade in our country, the public, in the process of joint activities with law enforce-ment officers, has been actively supporting the work to combat crime. In turn, the provision of assis-tance by the population to employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia through the joint protection of public order has a positive effect on the implementation of the foundations of state poli-cy in the field of legal awareness of the population. Therefore, in this scientific work, the object of study was the legal regulation of the interaction between employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia and citizens in the field of law enforcement and security. In the process of work, the author used general scientific and private scientific methods of research. He proposed an analysis of the le-gal support for the interaction of departments of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia with public associations and citizens. The author comes to the conclusion that in order to continue to effectively continue the work under consideration, the subjects of the work under consideration should clearly define the forms of interaction for the protection of public order in the served territories. It is also im-portant to prepare and send recommendations on the law enforcement activities of the police de-partment and public associations to the localities, taking into account local conditions and character-istics. And most importantly, today there is a need for regular monitoring of the legal framework gov-erning the interaction of internal affairs bodies and representatives of civil society in the work to combat crime. Such an approach, according to the author, will provide even greater interest and consistency in the work of the police department and public associations of citizens of various orien-tations. 
 The scientific novelty of the study is determined by the analysis of the legal framework for the in-teraction of internal affairs bodies and society in the fight against crime and measures to improve this work. 
 The practical significance of the work lies in the fact that its content can be used for classes in the system of professional training of employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia.

Cross Academia and Public Citizen Engagement for Developing Active Citizenship Competences

This paper explored the effect of the different open cross-university and public knowledge building activities on participants’ active citizenship competencies. A survey was conducted with the participants from 7 activities in higher education context in the INOS project. The results report that active citizenship competences could be better developed in cross-academia and public citizen engagement activities that target collaborative knowledge building and data management rather than in more individual crowdsourcing activities. The results indicate that the politico-legal competencies were the most difficult to develop through different activities and they require more specific design concerns in the future citizen science activities.

Quality of service and citizen satisfaction in a Lima district municipality

In the context of a district municipality in Lima in 2023, quality of care and citizen satisfaction are vital areas of study to understand the effectiveness of local government policies. This research approach dives into assessing how public services, municipal administration, and citizen interactions intertwine to influence the overall perception of inhabitants regarding the quality of services received. Exploring citizen satisfaction involves analyzing how different initiatives, programs and local government management impact residents' daily lives, well-being and trust in institutions. This study seeks to identify factors that influence the perception of quality of care, addressing the effectiveness of implemented policies and their alignment with the expectations and needs of the community, thus contributing to the continuous improvement of municipal services and the citizen experience

Flattening the curve: Insights from queueing theory.

The worldwide outbreak of the coronavirus was first identified in 2019 in Wuhan, China. Since then, the disease has spread worldwide. As it is currently spreading in the United States, policy makers, public health officials and citizens are racing to understand the impact of this virus on the United States healthcare system. They fear a rapid influx of patients overwhelming the healthcare system and leading to unnecessary fatalities. Most countries and states in America have introduced mitigation strategies, such as using social distancing to decrease the rate of newly infected people. This is what is usually meant by flattening the curve. In this paper, we use queueing theoretic methods to analyze the time evolution of the number of people hospitalized due to the coronavirus. Given that the rate of new infections varies over time as the pandemic evolves, we model the number of coronavirus patients as a dynamical system based on the theory of infinite server queues with time inhomogeneous Poisson arrival rates. With this model we are able to quantify how flattening the curve affects the peak demand for hospital resources. This allows us to characterize how aggressive societal policy needs to be to avoid overwhelming the capacity of healthcare system. We also demonstrate how curve flattening impacts the elapsed lag between the times of the peak rate of hospitalizations and the peak demand for the hospital resources. Finally, we present empirical evidence from Italy and the United States that supports the insights from our model analysis.

Effects of information provision on willingness to pay for conservation of alpine plants in Japan

Information provision is essential for obtaining the cooperation of the general public for the conservation of unfamiliar ecosystems towards a sustainable (e.g. carbon-neutral and nature-positive) society. The purpose of this study is to identify effective ways of raising public awareness for ecosystem conservation. We explored the interaction between the manner of information provision (i.e. the medium through which and how much information is provided) and the personal attributes (e.g. environmental attitude) of the recipients on their willingness to pay (WTP) for conservation using Japanese alpine plants as the subject. Discrete choice experiments using an online survey were conducted with public citizens aged 20–69 years across Japan, and data from 8457 respondents were analysed. The data analysis was performed in two steps: 1) estimating individual WTP and 2) exploring factors affecting WTP. The results demonstrated that individual WTP was 135,798 ± 82,840 (mean ± standard deviation) JPY per person for a lifetime. The WTP increased when information was provided in the form of short texts and graphics for those proactive about nature conservation, but increased more when video information was provided to those reactive about nature conservation. The study shows that ecosystem conservation groups need to adapt the amount and format of information for target audiences (e.g. Generation Z youth, who are more sustainability-oriented and prefer to accomplish more in less time).

CRIMINAL GROUPS – CRIMINOLOGY AND SECURITY PERSPECTIVES (CASE STUDY: BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA)

This paper analyses court cases which qualified as organised crime in Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H). The final judgments were analysed according to the following criteria: the number of defendants; the continuity of membership within the crime organisation; the existence of criminal structure; the existence of a developed plan of activities; the type and number of the offences committed; influence on public authorities, the judiciary, and citizens; and sentences imposed on the defendants. This paper seeks to identify the extent to which court judgments are based on these criteria. A secondary analysis of the data related to the organised crime cases heard in the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the period between 2015 and 2018 was conducted. This analysis encompassed 21 organised crime cases in which 27 judgments were pronounced. In the observed period (2015-2018), we identified two organised criminal groups that meet the criteria analysed. The identified number of organised criminal groups is minimal in relation to the total number of organised crime cases processed. Our findings contradict the prevailing view in public discourse that organised crime is a widespread security threat in BiH. The findings of our research demonstrated the existence of legal gaps, reflected in the lack of clear criteria on the basis of which OCGs can be distinguish from other forms of criminal activity. Legal and institutional weaknesses create opportunities for OCGs to operate and create a sense of insecurity among citizens in the already complex security environment in B&H.

Development of Electronic-Public Relations Through "Mp Mobile Apps" for Optimization of Information Systems

Good education management can certainly be carried out as effectively and efficiently as possible, which in the end is a positive response from users of educational services in the form of user satisfaction. There are several aspects to increase user satisfaction, one of which is information that is quickly received by the public and internal citizens of educational institutions. The method in this study uses the Waterfall Model from Winston Walker Royce, which has 5 stages (Analysis, Design, Implementation, Testing, and Maintenance). The purpose of this research is to emphasize the improvement of information services for department members and the general public, namely the quality of information services in a practical and integrated manner. The results of the “MP Mobile Apps” development show that the "MP Mobile Apps" application has met the eligibility standards to be implemented with an average of each. The category is as much as 85%.

Quantifying spatially varying impacts of public transport on NO$$_2$$ concentrations with big geo-data

Anthropogenic NO[Formula: see text] concentrations cause climate change and human health issues. Previous studies have focused on the contribution of traffic factors to NO[Formula: see text] emissions but have ignored the spatially varying impact of public transport supply and demand on high-resolution NO[Formula: see text] concentrations. This study first applies a two-stage interpolation model to generate a high-resolution urban NO[Formula: see text] concentration map originating from satellite measurement products. Then, we formulate 12 explanatory indicators derived from a fusion of massive big geo-data including smart card data and point of interest information, to represent the specific degree of public transport supply and citizens' demand. Furthermore, a geographically weighted regression is applied to quantify the spatial variation in the effect of these indicators on the urban NO[Formula: see text] concentrations. The result shows that public transportation coverage, frequency, and capabilities as public transport supply indicators in metropolitan and suburban areas have a two-way influence on the NO[Formula: see text] emissions. However, among public transport demand indicators, the economic level has a significant positive impact in most areas. Our findings can provide policy implications for public transportation system optimization and air quality improvement.

Collaborative Parking Management in Constanta: The Role of Public Policies and Citizen Participation

This research focuses on Collaborative Parking Management in Constanta, Romania, examining the role of public policies and citizen participation in improving the availability and quality of parking spaces. The study's general objective is to evaluate citizens' perceptions of parking spaces in Constanta and identify potential solutions to improve the current situation. To achieve this, the study outlines six specific objectives, including analyzing parking space availability, evaluating the quality of parking infrastructure, examining opinions on parking regulation and costs, investigating the impact on the environment, assessing the influence on vehicle and pedestrian safety, and identifying solutions for parking management improvement. The research tool utilized for this study was an online questionnaire, which included six dimensions related to parking space availability and quality, regulation and costs, impact on the environment, and safety, as well as a section for participants to make recommendations. This study aims to provide insight into the current state of parking in Constanta and offer practical solutions for improving the parking situation through collaboration between citizens and policymakers.

FOREIGN EXPERIMENTS IN PUBLIC CONTROL OVER THE STATE BUDGET: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS

Public control over the state budget is a critical aspect of democratic governance, ensuring transparency, accountability, and effective use of public funds. This scientific article provides a comprehensive analysis of foreign experiments and practices in public control over the state budget. By examining case studies from various countries, the article aims to identify innovative approaches, lessons learned, and best practices in enhancing public participation and oversight in budgetary processes. The article explores the mechanisms, tools, and institutional frameworks employed in different countries to promote citizen engagement, fiscal transparency, and effective budget management. Through a comparative analysis, this article seeks to contribute to the global understanding of public control over the state budget and provide insights for policymakers and practitioners seeking to strengthen public accountability and citizen involvement in budgetary decision-making.

Role of One Stop Shop for e-service delivery: Case Study on Union Digital Center in Bangladesh

The One Stop Shop (OSS) is a global concept that accelerates public and private service at the doorstep of citizens. Developing and developing countries have followed this approach to make public service citizen- cantered, inclusive and participatory. The government of Bangladesh has launched the one-stop-shop approach in the name of the Union Information and Service Center (UISC) as part of a partnership program. Over time, the number of one-stop shops has grown at Union, Paurashava and City Corporation level in Bangladesh. The objective of the study is to understand the existing one-stop-shop status in Bangladesh by analysing the role of One Stop Shop in promoting the provision of electronic services at the urban and rural levels. However, the study followed a qualitative design to achieve the goal of the study. Secondary data is collected through content analysis of relevant literature, books, journals and articles, etc. The study finds that there is a manpower (entrepreneurs) shortage and a lack of innovation in services in UDCs, PDCs and CDCs. Bangladesh has not been able to make significant progress and innovations to deliver dynamic public service at urban and rural level through the UDC, PDC and CDC. The study recommends initiating the provision of application-based public and private services through the UDCs, PDCs and CDCs. Social Science Review, Vol. 39(1), June 2022 Page 91-102

The Future Workforce of the Environmental Laboratory

Key TakeawaysThe environmental laboratory workforce is aging out and needs creative solutions to recruit and retain skilled staff to perform physical, microbial, chemical, and radiological tests.There are immediate needs for chemists to work in radiochemistry and to conduct analyses for per‐ and polyfluoroalkyl substances and other contaminants of emerging concern.Promoting the water and wastewater industry and developing the industry workforce require education through public outreach, internships, fellowships, and citizen science.

How Do Performance Pressures and Public Participation Demands Affect a City Agency’s Network Behavior? An Analysis of Interagency Networks in Seoul Metropolitan Government

Over the past decades, government agencies have been under increasing institutional pressures to improve performance while engaging the public in decision-making processes. This study aims to explore how agency managers perceive institutional pressures and how these pressures shape their network behaviors for interagency collaboration. Specifically, this research focuses on structural holes, which refer to network positions that connect otherwise-disconnected agencies. Drawing on the literature of public management, citizen participation, and social networks, this research develops a theoretical model of an agency’s network position and proposes hypotheses. This research tested two hypotheses using network and survey data collected from agency managers in the Seoul Metropolitan Government in 2009. The results of the study showed that agencies under greater performance pressure tended to locate themselves in interagency networks with structural holes, while agencies facing greater citizen participation demands tended to embed themselves in interagency networks with fewer structural holes. This implies that performance pressure drives city agencies to seek competitive structural positions in interagency networks, while citizen participation demands lead agencies to locate in dense interagency networks.

Exploring the Relationship Between Privatization in Public Service Delivery and Coproduction: Evidence from U.S. Local Governments

Since the New Public Management Movement, privatization has become a popular approach for delivering public services. However, few studies empirically assess the relationship between privatization of public service delivery and citizen participation in coproduction. Taking advantage of a national survey of U.S. local government chief administrators, this study aims to contribute to the literature by exploring the link between these two important mechanisms of public service provision. Our findings indicate that local governments are more likely to involve citizens in coproduction when a larger proportion of service delivery is privatized. Regarding various types of coproduction, privatization in public service delivery is positively associated with the likelihood of citizen involvement in co-planning, co-design, and co-assessment, but not in co-delivery. Finally, compared to for-profit service providers, involving nonprofit organizations in public service delivery is likely to create more opportunities for citizens to be involved in the coproduction of public services.

Sustainable Community Development as a Main Motive of Good Governance System and Ethical Presentation in a Developing Nation

Sustainable development has been given special attention worldwide regarding the environment and preservation of natural resources. However, sustainable community development remains a little-explored area, specifically concerning power-dominant economies and as an ethical representation of managing a country's law and order situations. Therefore, the current study aims to determine the influence of power disruptions, that is, human and governance factors, on sustainable community development directly and indirectly via an underlying mechanism of public sector performance. To achieve the study objectives, the study adopted a quantitative research methodology with a random sampling technique by surveying 720 citizens of Indonesia. A statistical data analysis using structural equation modeling in SmartPLS showed that power disruptions negatively impacted public sector performance, leading to underdeveloped communities. The results also showed that high levels of social connections between public sector employees and citizens mitigated the negative influence of power disruptions on public sector performance leading to the sustainable development of culture and community. The current study adds value to the government science literature by combining the critical issue of power disruptions and sustainable community development in a single consolidated framework that considers the ethics of governing a nation. The results will also help policymakers and project-executing agencies discourage power disruptions and find solutions to damages caused at the planning stages.