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1 – 10 of over 127000To improve the government's ability to regulate the economy, perfect the performance of macro-control, and promote stable and healthy economic development, according to the…
Abstract
To improve the government's ability to regulate the economy, perfect the performance of macro-control, and promote stable and healthy economic development, according to the relevant data since the reform and opening up, the deep system of investment impulsive behavior of local government in China is explored at this stage, and the idea of constructing an intergovernmental macro-control coordination mechanism is proposed. The results show that if a regional government can expand in line with the policy cycle, it can not only send a positive signal to the central government to respond to the macro-control, but also gain the upper hand in the local competition. However, if the effective demand in the region is still insufficient, the expansion plan is likely to evolve into excessive investment, and the region will face greater risks of overcapacity and local debt in the long run. Therefore, it is of great significance to study the investment behaviors of local governments in China at the present stage, analyze their characteristics and appearances, and find the causes of the investment impulse of local governments, so as to establish the macro-control coordination mechanism among Chinese governments.
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Stephen Osahon Uwaifo and Anthonia Chukwudumebi Kabadi
The study aims to examine the role of information technology in Local Government Administration in Delta State, using Aniocha North and Aniocha South Local Government Areas as the…
Abstract
Purpose
The study aims to examine the role of information technology in Local Government Administration in Delta State, using Aniocha North and Aniocha South Local Government Areas as the case study.
Design/methodology/approach
A survey approach was used to learn what was actually happening in local government practices.
Findings
IT contributes enormous value to the workings and operations of local government offices and when costs, leadership and management are indicative of such needs, it would be in the best interest of local governments to invest in such a launch.
Research limitations/implications
Economic feasibility and training and development of the human resource function would make enormous differences in the way local governments conduct their work in Delta State, Nigeria.
Practical implications
Local governments like libraries are great potential for IT applications and to build databases of information to be retained and recalled over time.
Originality/value
Applied the imperativeness of information technology practices to see how local practices could be improved for efficiency, quality control and ease of use.
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Pasquale Ruggiero, Andrea Mazzillo and Patrizio Monfardini
This chapter describes the audit of local government in Italy. In Italy, as elsewhere, local audit has been affected by the implementation of new public management based reforms…
Abstract
This chapter describes the audit of local government in Italy. In Italy, as elsewhere, local audit has been affected by the implementation of new public management based reforms. There is an increasing trend towards collaboration and cooperation between the audited authority and the auditor. Audit has begun, as in other jurisdictions to widen its remit, so that it focusses on performance as much as financial and compliance issues. This change in role brings with it opportunities for the auditor to help public sector improvement but also challenges – as new skills are required for the new roles that the auditor takes on and audit independence is complicated by the cooperative nature of modern local government audit.
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Laurence Ferry, Henry Midgley and Aileen Murphie
English local government audit has gone through fundamental change in the last decade and this period of instability looks certain to continue. Since 2014, councils have been…
Abstract
English local government audit has gone through fundamental change in the last decade and this period of instability looks certain to continue. Since 2014, councils have been audited by private sector auditors appointed theoretically by the councils themselves (though an overwhelming majority of councils have delegated this responsibility). The scope of audit after 2014 reduced to focus mainly on top-down financial management, rather than value for money or inspection. After growing concerns about the scope and quality of audit however, in 2020, the government commissioned Sir Tony Redmond to review local audit arrangements in England. The Redmond review identified several problems with the reformed structure and made recommendations for change. Currently, the sector is uncertain about what changes will be adopted to solve the issues discovered by Redmond.
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This study explores linkage between Alabama local governments’ lost General Revenue Sharing (GRS) and their resultant coping strategies in the years following this federal…
Abstract
This study explores linkage between Alabama local governments’ lost General Revenue Sharing (GRS) and their resultant coping strategies in the years following this federal program’s demise. Previous studies have failed consistently to relate particular coping strategies to how GRS monies were spent and to differing magnitudes of GRS loss among governmental jurisdictions. This study finds a possible linkage between Alabama local governments that cut basic governmental services and their previous GRS “dependency” and spending preferences.
The purpose of this paper is to examine how executive directors of nonprofit organizations perceive local government performance in affordable housing. It builds on a larger body…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine how executive directors of nonprofit organizations perceive local government performance in affordable housing. It builds on a larger body of research concerning the affordable housing activities of government and community‐based nonprofit housing organizations at the local level.
Design/methodology/approach
This analysis is based on a national survey of neighborhood housing services (NHS) organizations funded by Neighborworks® America. The survey included questions about local government performance in affordable housing and perceptions of factors influencing local government funding decisions. Survey data were supplemented with information gathered from the Neighborworks® America website.
Findings
The findings of this paper indicate that NHS organizations are not completely satisfied with local government performance. Local government performance in affordable housing received lower grades than other levels of government, as well as intermediary organizations and private financial institutions. This dissatisfaction is expressed through nonprofit fields in which these organizations are embedded. These fields have witnessed declining governmental support for affordable housing and expanding influence from philanthropic organizations and the private sector.
Originality/value
This paper highlights the need for government to assume a broader and more activist role in affordable housing policy. In essence, government needs to assume a more activist stance and forge stronger partnerships with nonprofits in response to the growing influence of intermediary organizations and the private sector in nonprofit fields. This would temper some of the excesses brought on by the devolution and nonprofitization of affordable housing policy and neoliberal influences on public policy more generally.
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Zifeng Wang, Zhiyuan Ning and Fei Wu
The purpose of this study is to provide evidence that government financing behavior has an impact on the outward foreign direct investment (OFDI) of enterprises.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to provide evidence that government financing behavior has an impact on the outward foreign direct investment (OFDI) of enterprises.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper uses debt data from local government financing vehicles to measure the local government debt in China. Based on the data of listed manufacturing firms in China from 2010 to 2018, this paper uses the Tobit model to verify the impact of local government debt and firms' OFDI.
Findings
The results indicate that local government debt impedes firms' OFDI, with a more pronounced impact on state-owned enterprises (SOEs) and those with higher political connections. Furthermore, our study suggests that the dampening effect of local governments on firms' OFDI is mitigated in regions following the implementation of the Local Government Debt Management Act.
Originality/value
This study verifies the negative impact of local government debt activity on firms' overseas investments. This is not due to debt crowding out, but rather to the fact that local governments prefer to keep resources locally to stimulate the economy. This paper offers novel insights into the theoretical mechanisms by which local government behavior influences firms' investment activities in emerging markets.
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Wei Qian, Carol Tilt and Ping Zhu
This paper aims to examine the role of local/provincial government in influencing corporate social and environmental reporting (CSER) in China, and more specifically, how the…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to examine the role of local/provincial government in influencing corporate social and environmental reporting (CSER) in China, and more specifically, how the underlying economic and political factors associated with local government have influenced the quality of CSER.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors used 234 environmentally sensitive companies listed on the Shanghai and Shenzhen Stock Exchanges during 2013 and 2015 as the research sample to test the relationship between CSER and local government’s political connection and economic prioritisation and the potential mediating effect of local economic prioritisation.
Findings
The analysis provides evidence that local/provincial government’s political geographical connectedness with the central government has directly and positively influenced the level of CSER, while local prioritisation of economic development has a direct but negative effect on CSER in China. In addition, local/provincial prioritisation of economic development has mediated the relationship between local–central political geographical connectedness and CSER.
Practical implications
While local/provincial governments are heavily influenced by the coercive pressure from the central government, they also act in their own political and economic interests in overseeing CSER at the local level. This study raises the question about the effectiveness of the top-down approach to improving CSER in China and suggests that the central government may need to focus more on coordinating and harmonising different local/provincial governments’ interests to enable achieving a common sustainability goal.
Originality/value
The authors provide evidence revealing how the economic and political contexts of local government have played a significant role in shaping CSER in China. More specifically, this paper addresses a gap in the literature by highlighting the importance of local government oversight power for CSER development and how such oversight is determined by local prioritisation of economic development and political geographical connectedness of local and central governments.
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