Posts Tagged ‘governance’
Free download: The future of the European Union
What happens to the European Union after the crisis triggered by the threat of Greek default in early 2010? In her commentary in the current issue of Governance (23.4, October 2010), Vivien Schmidt says the EU must develop stronger mechanisms for responding to the economic crises of member states, as well as more flexible rules on fiscal and monetary policy, and better policies to remedy economic inequalities. “Reform demands real political will,” says Schmidt, “at a time when inward-looking politics is on the rise.” Download the commentary for free.
Governance roundtable held in London
Governance co-sponsored a roundtable on “public governance after the financial crisis” at University College London’s School of Public Policy on May 28. Academics and policymakers from over twenty institutions participated in the day-long discussion, which was a follow-on to a similar session held at Suffolk University Law School in Boston last November. Papers prepared for the roundtable are being compiled for a forthcoming special issue of Governance. Photo below: Paul Posner of George Mason University discusses the capacity of democratic systems to deal with fiscal crises.
New modes of governance for long-term societal challenges
Andrews: “Good government” means different things in different countries
In the new issue of Governance (23.1, January 2010) Professor Matt Andrews of Harvard Kennedy School criticizes the “one-best-way model of effective government” that is built into benchmarking projects such as the World Bank’s World Governance Indicators. Examining public financial management structures in thirty-eight nations, Andrews finds substantial variation in practice among countries that are held up as models of effectiveness. “Good public financial management means different things in different countries,” Andrews says. “The good governance version of good or effective government is a hollow one.” Download Andrews’ article, “Good Government Means Different Things in Different Countries” for free.
Free download: Mehta on state spending and governance in India
The relationship between democracy and good governance is “more tenuous than we like to admit,” says Pratap Bhanu Mehta, President of India’s Centre for Policy Research, in the lead commentary for the new issue of Governance (23.3, July 2010). But Mehta examines one neglected factor that might improve the prospects for good governance: an increase in the scale of government spending.
In India, Mehta argues, increased state expenditure has improved voters’ attention to governmental performance; changed the structure of corruption in beneficial ways; and allowed government to invest in stronger accountability instruments. “A growth in state capacity,” Mehta concludes, “can, to a certain extent, mitigate the ill effects of unaccountable government.” Download Mehta’s commentary for free.
Written by Governance
July 1, 2010 at 1:00 am
Posted in commentary
Tagged with corruption, development, governance, India, state capacity