Utilising international material to explore the roles, functions, tasks, responsibilities, powers and actions of intra-state politicians and the institutions to which they are elected, this insightful book examines how local and regional authorities are pivotal in the democratic and governing arrangements of different countries. Expert contributors examine how regional and local bodies have authority over public services, local spending, land use and local regulation, while operating within the constraints and structures of their own national settings. The Modern Guide also considers the responsibility of local and regional powers in the promotion of community action and cohesion. Taking a comparative approach, country-specific chapters present detailed analyses of the similarities and differences between the shape and purpose of institutions which operate within the state and how they interact with each other and the national institutions of government. Exploring the concepts and principles behind power structures within governmental systems, this book will be a key resource for academics and students of public policy, regulation and governance, and public administration and management. Its presentation of models of the formation of government in an international context will also be beneficial for policy-makers and practitioners in these fields.

Nowhere in the world presents a more dramatic case of wealth creation than East Asia. Contrary to the common belief that social policy in the economic powerhouses of the region is secondary to their pursuit of economic growth, Gyu-Jin Hwang argues that it has in fact played an integral part in building strong states and competitive market economies. Building Markets examines the original four Newly Industrialised Economies (NIEs) of East Asia: Hong Kong, Korea, Singapore, and Taiwan, as well as Japan, the regional forerunner in both economic and social terms. Chapters undertake a comparative analysis of the various social policy measures and redistributive efforts taken across a diverse range of social policy sectors in the region, covering cash transfers, healthcare, education, housing, and family policy. Addressing the mounting pressure on East Asian economies to rethink their growth strategies, Hwang concludes with a call for social means to be diverted, adapted, and converted to serve new social ends. Integrating cutting-edge theoretical insights with detailed policy analysis, Building Markets will be an invaluable tool for academics and postgraduate students interested in social policy, economics, and development in East Asia.

Elgar Advanced Introductions are stimulating and thoughtful introductions to major fields in the social sciences, business and law, expertly written by the world's leading scholars. Designed to be accessible yet rigorous, they offer concise and lucid surveys of the substantive and policy issues associated with discrete subject areas. Taking an innovative look at how megaprojects are managed, including the important Why, What, Who and How elements, this insightful Advanced Introduction is enhanced with case studies of megaprojects from across the globe. Throughout, the authors highlight the fundamental issues in an accessible format, such as why megaprojects are undertaken, what their challenges are, how to market projects and who deals with stakeholder engagement. It also investigates key areas such as governance, social value creation, management, contractual and decision-making issues. Key features: Discusses how the creation of narratives can address uncertainty in projects Illustrates the pros and cons of a conventional approach to decision-making versus a naturalistic approach Provides a post-modernist approach to the management of megaprojects based on flexibility, versatility and ambidexterity Highlights the importance of megaproject leadership engaging with stakeholders to align interests and create value effectively This Advanced Introduction will provide essential reading for practitioners, specifically megaproject leaders, as well as academics of megaproject studies and management studies and projects. Students engaging in project and management studies will also find this enlightening and informative.

This timely Research Agenda examines the ways in which public-private partnerships (PPPs) in infrastructure continue to excite policy makers, governments, research scholars and critics around the world. It analyzes the PPP research journey to date and articulates the lessons learned as a result of the increasing interest in improving infrastructure governance. Expert international contributors explore how PPP ideas have spread, transferred and transformed, causing supporting markets to develop and mature. Providing a multidisciplinary perspective on the topic, this thought-provoking Research Agenda proposes a range of future research directions, pointing towards the potential of fresh research approaches to PPP, the adoption of new theories and intellectual lenses, better balancing of public-private interests, and stronger public governance across what has now become a global phenomenon. It lights the way to diverse research frontiers ranging from financialization to psychology and behavioural science, as well as the continuing prominence of public administration, politics, economics, planning and law. A Research Agenda for Public-Private Partnerships and the Governance of Infrastructure will be an enticing read for students and scholars of regulation and governance, public management and administration, politics and economics as well as industry professionals across the domains of public policy, infrastructure and city planning.

Featuring a comprehensive analytical collection of interdisciplinary research on regulatory authorities, this innovative Handbook presents the fundamental concepts, theories, practices, and empirical achievements and challenges in the contemporary study of regulatory authorities. Opening with a comparative overview of regulators across global regions, regulatory sectors, and regulatory types, the Handbook discusses the key regulatory conceptual issues of independence, politicization, and quality. Contributions from leading scholars and regulatory practitioners provide cutting-edge research on reputation, performance, and control in regulatory authorities. Chapters combine foundational theoretical concepts with empirical research to consider the emerging advances, challenges, and questions in the field, while also giving weight to critical examinations of complex and underexplored issues in research on regulatory authorities. Forward-thinking, the Handbook concludes by expanding its focus to analyse behavioural insights, innovation, agenda-setting, and new frontiers in regulation. With a cross-disciplinary approach, this all-encompassing Handbook will prove invaluable for students and scholars of politics, law, and economics with a regulatory governance perspective. Global in scope, it will be an essential point of reference for policy analysts, practitioners, and policymakers working in regulation and regulatory authorities.

What is the point of introducing and executing a policy, programme or project in the lifecycle of an organisation if no forethought has been given to how the success, failure or progressof the exercise will be periodically examined? Both private and public sector organisations need to be responsive to the expectations of their internal and external stakeholders to demonstrate that their performance not only yields the desired results in terms of the "bottom line" but also that those results have integrity, i.e. what was planned is reflected in their processes and in what was eventually achieved. Monitoring and evaluation of policies, programmes and projects examines the key concepts and practices involved in performance tracking and evaluation. Monitoring and evaluation of policies, programmes and projects has drawn from the diverse experiences and expertise of the authors as well as from practical insights gained from practitioners and teaching students at various training courses, nationally and internationally. The balance between theory and practice makes it easy to understand and apply in the workplace, for the achievement of improved results. In this second edition, chapters have been expanded and re-focused to address emerging trends, and new chapters have been added to address institutionalising monitoring and evaluation to make it more participatory. Monitoring and evaluation of policies, programmes and projects remains both a conceptual text and an academic resource for university students, particularly those in management and public administration, as well as a reference work for practitioners and decision-makers in public and private sector organisations.

This authoritative Dictionary provides comprehensive definitions of key terms in public policy. Unpacking the increasingly complex and diffusive world of public policy, it offers an exhaustive definitional guide to the terminology utilised by contemporary policy scholars. Prepared by a team of expert scholars, entries summarise the social, political and economic contexts of fundamental public policy vocabulary and dissect its usage in modern scholarship. Entries are meticulously cross-referenced to guarantee accessibility and illuminate a broad yet detailed understanding of topics. Providing recommendations for further reading, it features 330 carefully defined entries to aid researchers investigating both novel and historical approaches to public policy. Assembling a broad overview of the discipline, this Dictionary is a useful reference book for students at all levels and early-career researchers. It will also benefit policy practitioners looking for a superior understanding of the crucial vocabulary that governs their field.

This Handbook offers a critical analysis of the major theoretical and empirical issues in public policy and public administration in China. Investigating methodological, theoretical, and conceptual themes, it provides an insightful reflection on how China is governed.   Taking a multidisciplinary approach, expert international contributors explore the complex challenges and facets of public administration, inwards and outwards civil service issues, and policy configurations and implementations in China. Chapters provide in-depth analyses of government capacity-building and policy making, local bureaucracy, anti-corruption regimes, civil service evaluation, and the effectiveness of the public sector. This comparative study uniquely tests Western theories of public policy and administration in a non-Western country, evaluating and dimensionalizing the relevance of such perspectives. Through the examination of key areas of research, the Handbook also illuminates the present state of research and teaching on public administration in China and establishes a broad framework for future studies of the field.   Offering a detailed discussion of the characteristics of governance in China, this comprehensive Handbook will be a valuable resource for academics and students of public policy and administration, politics, sociology and Chinese studies. Its focus on management and performance will also be beneficial for public policy makers and analysts.

This book provides an understanding of how public organizations adapt to and manage situations characterized by fluidity, ambiguity, complexity and unclear technologies, thus exploring public governance in times of turbulence. An impressive selection of scholars present their research on governance in turbulent times and explore how public organizations adapt flexibly in turbulent situations. The editors introduce a diverse analytical toolkit contributing not only to an understanding of the role of complexity in public governance, but also suggesting how organizational formats may serve as usable design tools available to decision-makers in the pursuit of sustainable and responsible governance. Chapters explore a variety of topics and cases including artificial intelligence, antimicrobial resistance and sexuality education. Providing a broad coverage of empirical cases and a global outlook, this book will be an excellent read for scholars and practitioners in political science and public administration, as well as policy makers with interests in governance, leadership and citizen engagement.

This unique book traces the origins and evolution of environmental policy formation, comparing the differences in this process between developing and developed countries. It focuses on the importance of the state's role and issues of timing and sequence in the creation of environmental policies. Expert contributors provide new insights into how the environment as a concept and environmental policies have evolved. They analyse how ''latecomer public policy'' is related to the dilemma between industrial development and maintaining high environmental standards, especially in developing countries. Chapters also examine these processes in a variety of regions with rich records of environmental policies and trajectories of change. Taking a historical and path dependence approach, the book emphasises the significance of the role of administrative systems, policy coordination and timing in the success or failure of environmental policies. This book will be a valuable resource for academics and students of environmental studies, public policy, public administration and regional studies. Its synthesis of empirical data and case studies from countries including China, Taiwan, Thailand, the US and Germany will also be beneficial for policymakers.

Elgar Research Agendas outline the future of research in a given area. Leading scholars are given the space to explore their subject in provocative ways, and map out the potential directions of travel. They are relevant but also visionary. This Research Agenda for Social Wellbeing introduces scholars and planners to the importance of a 'wellbeing lens' for the study and promotion of social flourishing. It demonstrates the importance of wellbeing as a public good, not just a property of individuals. Synthesising wellbeing research from multiple disciplines, including sociology, public health, urban and social planning, moral philosophy and development studies, chapters illustrate how the wellbeing lens promotes positivity, understanding of a variety of viewpoints and systematic appreciation of lives in their social contexts. Encouraging appreciative learning and aspirational planning, Neil Thin looks beyond the implicit 'OK' line of minimal decent standards in order to appreciate and promote moral progress. As an illuminating summary of the field, offering new avenues for employing social wellbeing research across multiple disciplines, this book will be key reading for scholars and students of sociology, development studies and anthropology. It will also benefit practitioners, such as planners, evaluators and social workers in need of practical insights into social wellbeing issues.

This comprehensive Handbook provides an insight into the main concepts and academic debates on taxation from a political science perspective. Providing a background to current debates on green taxation, taxation and inequality, taxation and gender, tax evasion and avoidance, and tax compliance, it offers potential avenues for future research. The Handbook explores the historical evolution of modern tax systems, contemporary tax politics from a comparative perspective, global tax politics from an international relations perspective, and the formation of tax policy preferences of taxpayers, voters, business associations and parties. Expert contributors analyse the foundations of the field of research and focus on key debates, including the links between colonization and taxation, international cooperation against tax evasion and avoidance, and the taxation of financial transactions. The Handbook on the Politics of Taxation will be a vital resource for academics and students of public finance and public policy. Its exploration of tax compliance and voter preferences will also be beneficial for practitioners and policymakers in these fields.

This ground-breaking book investigates the work of policy professionals. They consist of political actors who, although not elected to office, are nonetheless employed to affect policy and politics on a partisan basis. Through an analysis of the influence and power they wield, this book sheds light on how the growth of this group represents a major transformation of the organization of politics and policy making in advanced democracies. Taking a comparative, longitudinal perspective, Stefan Svallfors examines a combination of rich qualitative and quantitative data from countries such as Sweden, the Netherlands, Ireland and Latvia in order to explore what skills policy professionals deploy, the motivations that drive them, and the demand and use for their skills in various organizations. He links his analysis to fundamental questions about the current state and future of democracy, demonstrating that the work of policy professionals is key to understanding how contemporary political influence and democratic accountability function. Politics for Hire will be a stimulating read for scholars and advanced students in political science, public administration, public policy and sociology. It will also provide useful insights for those working in politics and governance seeking to understand the impact and influence of policy professionals.

Based on 12 years of research on corruption across the globe, this book presents four empirical case studies which illustrate the cultural, cognitive, and social implications of corruption. Davide Torsello examines the socio-institutional, organizational, and cognitive-hermeneutical aspects of the cultural theory model of corruption. This insightful book proposes an innovative theoretical framework on how the notion of culture can be used to understand corruption as an inexplicable yet resilient phenomenon. Chapters examine the hermeneutical, cultural, and social aspects of corruption, the unravelling political–business corruption in contemporary Japan, and the relationship between organizational culture and corruption. Torsello advises on how to deal with corruption by asking questions that have often been ignored in mainstream literature and suggests that the investigation of corruption must focus on larger societal fields, rather than more limited individual–organizational ones, although ultimately the decision to indulge or not in such a criminal act is of the individual and reflects their own degree of self-awareness. Illustrating multidimensional perspectives on mainstream theories of corruption, this book will be essential reading for students and scholars in cultural sociology, political studies, public administration and management, and public policy. It will also be beneficial for practitioners working in criminology, local and national governance, politics, and social policy.

The term "intergovernmental relations" refers to the way in which the different spheres of a government hierarchy relate to each other. This concept is of vital importance where there is a division of power at both administrative and legal levels among different spheres of government. Intergovernmental relations in South Africa examines the South African government's quest to enhance effective and efficient service delivery to the people. Case studies are included in all chapters to provide a hands-on approach to relate theory to practice. This book discusses four distinct approaches to the subject: the constitutional/legal approach, the democratic approach, the financial approach and the normative/operational approach. It culminates in a delineation of practical steps for the promotion of well-grounded intergovernmental relations, sustainable capacity building and trustworthy political accountability. The book also focuses on intergovernmental relations network and cooperative governance in South Africa as well as governmental relations in the BRICS countries. Intergovernmental relations in South Africa is suitable not only for academics but also for practitioners in the fields of public administration and management, political sciences, social sciences, law and other related disciplines.

This innovative Handbook offers a wide-ranging overview of the multi-faceted field of public administration and management. It provides a broad approach to the discipline, addressing the range of descriptive, normative and critical theories required to diagnose public service issues and prescribe administrative action. Chapters assess the state of the field, presenting a comprehensive roadmap for future theoretical development. Featuring contributions from top international experts, the Handbook considers the key theories on the role, function and organization of public administration. It further offers critical insights on the people who work in public management, and a broad range of significant perspectives on the field. Interdisciplinary and comprehensive, it applies leading and emerging theories in public administration and management and applies them to latent and developing issues of public service and the relationship between government and society. This Handbook provides a far-reaching analysis of the field for scholars, researchers and graduate students of public administration and management, particularly those interested in an international or comparative approach to the field. Its theoretical insights will also benefit policymakers and practitioners working in public service provision in need of both trusted and innovative public management solutions.

Elgar Research Agendas outline the future of research in a given area. Leading scholars are given the space to explore their subject in provocative ways, and map out the potential directions of travel. They are relevant but also visionary. This Research Agenda provides a broad and comprehensive overview of the field of multilevel governance. Illustrating theoretical and normative approaches and identifying prevailing gaps in research, it offers a cutting-edge agenda for future investigations. Leading experts from a range of disciplines explore key questions of multilevel governance pertaining to institutions and institutional dynamics, power relationships and the division of power, as well as policymaking and policy change. Chapters engage with a broad range of policy areas, including digitization, security, climate change and redistributive policies, addressing key multilevel governance issues and dilemmas in coordination, intergovernmental relations, democracy and the transformation of political authority. In an era demarcated by major transformative challenges, this Research Agenda represents an essential reading for students, academics and policy practitioners interested in public policy, comparative politics and intergovernmental or international relations. Offering a state-of-the-art agenda for future research, this book is crucial reading for researchers and graduate students in political science, public administration and federal studies. Its practical insights into contemporary policymaking will also benefit practitioners interested in multilevel governance policy.

Compiling the experience and expertise of over 50 leading international scholars, this Handbook of Teaching Public Administration provides critical insights into the questions, issues, and challenges raised by teaching practitioners and aspiring professionals. Its global scope ensures a comprehensive overview of the diversity of current practice in teaching public administration. Featuring international examples of curriculum design and practice, the Handbook positions public administration against a backdrop shaped by global politics, history, philosophy, and social change. Applied case studies on teaching public administration and in-depth analyses of critical pedagogical concepts illuminate the diverse and multidisciplinary approaches to public administration across the globe, as well as emphasising the widely contested nature of its teaching. Contributions from field professionals explore questions of accreditation, curriculum design, assessment, innovation, and practice, ultimately serving to inform and inspire readers' pedagogical decisions. Theoretical, empirical, and practice-focused, this incisive Handbook will be an essential resource for public administration students, educators, and practitioners at any stage in their study or career. It will also serve as an engaging reference text for public administration accreditation and approvals organisations.

This multidisciplinary book unpacks and outlines the contested roles of nationalism and democracy in the formation and transformation of welfare-state institutions and ideologies. At a time when neo-liberal, post-national and nationalist visions alike have challenged democratic welfare nationalism, the book offers a transnational historical perspective to the political dynamics of current changes. While particularly focusing on Nordic countries, often seen as the quintessential 'models' of the welfare state, the book collectively sheds light on the 'history of the present' of nation states bearing the character of a welfare state. Initial chapters discuss the contested roles and meanings of democracy in the formation of the so-called 'Nordic model' of welfare, exploring its development in connection with rhetorical de-ideologization during and after the Cold War and with concerns about global development. Contributors further examine the ways in which national welfare states and their democratic dimensions are reshaped in the context of post-national regulation regimes of globalized and financialized capitalism. In the final chapters, the book explores the implications of welfare nationalism for cross-border mobility, analysing paradoxes and inherent tensions at the heart of contemporary migration politics. The analyses point to the integral role of nationalism in the formation of the democratic welfare states, as well as in the present-day goals of national competitiveness and security. Providing key theoretical insights for the study of welfare nationalism, this book is essential reading for scholars, researchers and students of the social and political sciences who are interested in the enduring transformation of the welfare state, and particularly those investigating the emergence and growth of the Nordic model. Policymakers and practitioners will also benefit from this multi-layered, empirical account of contemporary policy problems.

Political philosophy is a field of study which aims to clarify our most fundamental ethical questions as human beings living in societies under conditions of scarce resources and unequal power: How should we live? What does a good life look like? What kind of social and political arrangements are most conducive to living good lives? Puzzles in contemporary political philosophy shows the relevance of classical and contemporary thinkers to our own lives and the world we live in today. This introduction uses a wealth of real-world examples drawn from the South African context to explore some of these questions: We value freedom but where should the limits to our freedom lie? What do we mean by equality? Do we mean that we want people to be equally happy, or equally successful, or equally well fed? We think of democracies as places where citizens can enjoy a certain measure of justice, but what is meant by "justice"? Is it a particular form of distribution of goods, of services, of opportunities? Is justice the same as "equality" or is there a difference? Are some forms of inequality "just"? Is justness the same as "fairness"? Written in simple, jargon-free language, this introduction to some of the most important debates in contemporary politics is an essential guide for undergraduate South African students of political philosophy.

Elgar Advanced Introductions are stimulating and thoughtful introductions to major fields in the social sciences, business and law, expertly written by the world's leading scholars. Designed to be accessible yet rigorous, they offer concise and lucid surveys of the substantive and policy issues associated with discrete subject areas. In this updated second edition, internationally renowned scholar B. Guy Peters provides a succinct introduction to public policy and illustrates the design approach to policy problems. Peters demonstrates how decision-makers can make more effective choices and why a design approach to public intervention can improve policy formulation. Key features of the second edition include: Analytical identification and evaluation of the vital components of policy design Reflections on the challenges posed by Covid-19 and public policy solutions An expanded overview of evaluation and behavioral public policy analysis Critical discussions of alternatives to cost-benefit analysis. Offering a timely and concise approach to the field, this book will be crucial for high-level students who are new to public policy, as well as scholars and researchers hoping to improve and advance their understanding of the design perspective. Its analytic and theoretical grounding will also prove useful for policy practitioners, enabling sophisticated solutions to common policy problems.

Public private partnerships (PPPs) have been a controversial approach to procuring public infrastructure services. Against a background of recent trenchant criticism of PPPs, Mervyn K. Lewis, a leading scholar in the area, re-examines their utility. He questions what PPPs can and cannot do, why governments choose this route and whether PPPs can ever be good value for money. The author analyses the extensive use of PPPs for hospitals and transport megaprojects and outlines the key challenges to implementing them, shaping the future direction of the PPP model. Exploring the psychological influences on decision-making, the book also puts a new focus on the people delivering the project; it is not only a matter of selecting the right model. Professor Lewis concludes that, although the PPP model remains problematic, if chosen appropriately every procurement approach has its place in good policy. Providing an in-depth exploration of the features of PPPs and the complexities of megaprojects, Rethinking Public Private Partnerships will be of considerable interest to academics and students of public policy, economic regulation and governance, and public finance. Its re-assessment of the field will also prove invaluable for government procurers, advisory firms and PPP experts.

This expertly curated and accessible Elgar Modern Guide is dedicated to aiding our understanding of the large corpus of studies and concepts in public policy developed using many multi-disciplinary frameworks and approaches. Bringing together a wide range of specialist contributors, this Modern Guide explores these approaches and methodologies, ranging from the examinaion of the micro level of human behaviour to the impact of the nature of global political systems on domestic policy-making. Scholars and practitioners use many frameworks and methods in order to explore these complex government and policy processes and dynamics and this book provides a handy guide to their origins, applications, and strengths and weaknesses. Chapters address the manner in which policies develop, the mechanisms activated in order to achieve policy goals, and the general patterns through which policies evolve and change. Featuring coverage of both classic and contemporary work in the field, A Modern Guide to Public Policy is an invaluable resource for both graduate and undergraduate students and for practitioners seeking an introduction to public policy and public management. It serves as an entry point into current research findings and methods for both researchers and practitioners alike and is essential reading for those wishing to enhance their understanding of public policy-making as a supplement to their other areas of interest.

The need for results delivery in private and public sector organisations has increased, with stakeholders putting substantial pressure on organisations to demonstrate good performance in an environment with limited operational resources. In effect, organisations are being expected to deliver better results with fewer resources. By employing the appropriate tools and techniques of monitoring and evaluation, organisations can be better equipped to ensure that "what is planned" becomes "what is achieved". Monitoring and evaluation of policies, programmes and projects explains key concepts and practices involved in performance tracking and assessment. Monitoring and evaluation of policies, programmes and projects has drawn from the diverse experiences and expertise of the authors in public and private sector management of organisations, as well as practical insights gained from practitioners and students at various training courses, nationally and internationally. The balance between the more abstract, theoretical underpinnings of the subject and its practical aspects makes it easy to follow and incorporate. Contents include the following: Conceptual models of the policy process; the fundamentals and practical steps of policy monitoring and evaluation; the result-based management approach; tools and techniques for monitoring and evaluation; the use of research of policies, programmes and projects.