Lex localis - Journal of Local Self-Government

Evaluation of the Quality of Web-Based Integrated Administration Services (PATEN) in Sidoarjo District, Indonesia

2023-02-01T14:57:58Central Europe Standard Time

The Regional Integrated Administration Service Program (PATEN) is one of the currently web-based programs to support the optimization of public service performance related to licensing to document issuance in Sidoarjo Regency, Indonesia. This research aims to develop a service quality evaluation model in information systems by examining the understanding and application of the e-government field. Achieving this study’s objectives should produce: 1) mapping critical factors to develop web-based quality evaluation models for PATEN, 2) formulating web-based development of quality evaluation models for PATEN, and 3) adopting strategies for developing web-based PATEN quality evaluation models in Sidoarjo Regency Government. The research method used is descriptive research with a qualitative approach. The research location is Sukodono District and Buduran District, Sidoarjo Regency Government, Indonesia. The data collection method included interviews, focus groups, and discussions. The research results show that the mapping of critical factors in developing a web-based quality evaluation model of PATEN in terms of knowledge development of employees who have often attended workshops to support employee competence in providing public services; leadership strongly supports innovation. Standard Operating Procedures and the innovation network are under continuous development. This study develops an e-government-based evaluation model of sub-district integrated administrative services quality. It combines the previous model of improving the service quality of electronic-based systems to improve the quality of continuity of use and a model of service measurement to consumers using the website.

Sub-sovereign Fiscal Rules in Poland in Comparison with Measures Adopted in the US, China, and Selected EU Countries

2023-02-01T14:59:27Central Europe Standard Time

Measures to increase debt sustainability and related creditworthiness play an important role in sovereign fiscal policy. The establishing of fiscal rules delimits fiscal policy through specific limits for particular budget aggregates. Fiscal rules in Poland were analyzed against measures applied in European Union countries, with emphasis on changes due to COVID-19. Also differences in fiscal rules at the regional and local level in the United States, China, and Poland are described. Conclusions from the research lead to the identification of a relationship between the restrictiveness of the rules and possibilities to maintain budget balance and prevent excessive indebtedness. Important conclusions may be also drawn from different reactions for crisis in the fiscal rules area – from relaxing the rules to wide use of special fund or financial vehicles – which were crucial states reply to fiscal burdens.

Economic Evaluation of Investment Projects: Determining the Key Factors for Final Investment Decision

2023-02-01T15:01:06Central Europe Standard Time

Evaluation of investment projects is a crucial part of the investment decision-making process. Although dynamic evaluation techniques are precise and theoretically correct, they can still lead to the wrong investment decision. The main goal of this study was to identify the key drivers of investment projects’ profitability from the point of view of the company, municipality and society. Data on 26 investment projects were gathered and analyzed. The results of the principal component analysis (PCA) showed that the net present value, when compared to the internal rate of return and discounted payback period, represents the key indicator of the profitability of investment projects. Also, PCA showed that the total sales and total costs, when compared to the initial investment and discount rate, represent the key factors that affect the profitability of investment projects. Regression analysis (OLS) confirmed these results since the total sales and total costs have the highest and statistically significant effect on the net present value of investment projects.

Democratic Governance and Public Funding Strategies: Does Citizen Participation Impact Revenue Diversification?

2023-02-01T15:02:55Central Europe Standard Time

Citizens can either support or resist new tax and/or nontax policies for revenue-raising in the budgetary process. The relationship between citizens’ role and revenue diversification is an important but under-researched topic. Therefore, to fill this gap in the existing knowledge, this study aims to explore the relationship between citizen participation and revenue diversification. Using the 2012 ICMA data paired with multiple data sources, this exploration offered empirical evidence that citizen participation has significant positive effects on the levels of tax and nontax revenue diversification. Further, the results confirm that local governments with a commitment to citizen participation are more likely to diversify their revenue structures.

Public Services: Forced Digitalization in a Pandemic - The Nuances of Management

2023-02-01T15:05:26Central Europe Standard Time

The aim of the article is to assess the digital transformation quantitatively and qualitatively in the management of public services against the background of the pandemic. The E-Government Development Index (EGDI) analog for evaluating the effectiveness of digital public services was developed. Qualitative and quantitative changes in digital transformation in the management of public services on the background of the pandemic were determined. It was found that no more extensive range of non-mandatory actions aimed at improving the client-oriented nature of public services and communication is observed in the innovative regions of the Russian Federation. It is established that the main transformations are qualitative, as the trend of increasing digitalization of public services was observed even before the pandemic, but during the pandemic the requirements for the expansion of such services, their efficiency, "customer centricity", and communication both within the organization and with users have increased.

Co-production and Citizens’ Satisfaction with Public Services: The Case of Environmental Public Services in China

2023-02-01T15:07:29Central Europe Standard Time

This study investigates the impact of co-production on citizens’ satisfaction with environmental public services. Using survey data from China, the findings demonstrate that co-production can increase citizens’ satisfaction with environmental public services. Contrary to existing explanations, there is a significant difference between satisfaction with central and local governments in China. Co-production has positively increased citizens’ satisfaction with the effectiveness of environmental governance in local governments, and this has only partially positively increased for the central government. The findings demonstrate that co-production can optimize the structure of public services to increase citizens’ satisfaction with public services.

Comparing Party System Types at the Regional Level: Czech Regional Elections 2000–2020 as an Example of Vertical Top-down Spill-over

2023-02-01T15:11:22Central Europe Standard Time

The article aims to contribute to a better understanding of regional-level party politics in post-communist Czech Republic. We follow the multilevel election perspective, which emphasizes that full understanding of regional-level contestation and the resulting shape of regional party systems is only possible when taking horizontal and vertical interactions between regional and other electoral arenas into consideration. By analyzing all regional elections since the establishment of self-governing regions in 2000 to 2020, we found that Czech regional party systems (1) are not converging towards a single type; (2) are not too stable between elections; (3) are characterised by growing fragmentation and the resulting gradual shift from moderate multiparty systems to extreme multiparty systems; and (4) this transformation is largely a result of a top-down form of vertical spill-over as development in the Czech national arena has the main impact on electoral outcomes as well as party system formats at regional level.

Procedural Aspects of the Usage of Local Water Resources in Connection with the Marketing of Natural Mineral Waters and Spring Waters: Comments on the Provisions of the EU Law and Polish Law

2023-02-01T15:13:18Central Europe Standard Time

According to EU law, proper water management is to ensure enduring and sustainable development taking into account the economic use of water resources and the availability of water in adequate quality and quantity. Within the framework of proper water management in the EU Member States, the use of local water resources for economic purposes involves state intervention in the form of granting of a permit (water-law permit or licence) for the exploitation of water intakes located in a given geographical area. However, obtaining such a permit does not entitle the undertaking to market the extracted waters as natural mineral waters or spring waters. To be able to use groundwater in bottling industry, national authorities must assess and classify the water. Of crucial importance are full water tests, which include the analysis of organoleptic, chemical and physico-chemical properties and microbiological examination of the water. As for natural mineral waters, the undertaking must also apply for official recognition of the water. The recognition procedure does not apply to spring waters.

Freedom of Expression and Misinformation Laws During the COVID-19 Pandemic and the European Court of Human Rights

2023-02-01T15:16:39Central Europe Standard Time

This article assesses the European Court of Human Rights’ possible responses to post-COVID-19 misinformation laws. These laws are intended to protect society but may become dangerous weapons if used by governments wishing to silence opponents. We identify four categories of speech restrictions that appeared during the COVID-19 pandemic. We then present the recent misinformation laws from Council of Europe member states as well as various potential arguments when cases appear before the Court, and assess their potential weight. We also analyze the expected post-pandemic development of the European Convention on Human Rights’ Article 10 jurisprudence.

Circulation of the Silesian Political Elite - Case Study

2023-02-01T15:09:22Central Europe Standard Time

This paper is aimed to investigate the exchange index of the Silesian political elite in cities with county rights from the 2002 election through five elections until 2018. The author’s deliberations on the political elite exchange are based on the political elite circulation theory presented by Vilfredo Pareto. The key research question to be answered in this paper is: What is the exchange index of the local political elite’s representatives in cities with county rights in the Silesian province (PL “województwo” [voivodeship] – a local government administration unit in Poland).

A regression analysis was carried out to test the influence of the year of the term of office and city on the political elite’s exchange level. The list of councillors was transformed into a database using a Python algorithm. Further data operations (diagram plotting, model calculation) were performed in the R 4.0.5 statistical environment (R Core Team, 2020). The analyses proved that the observed values of the political elite exchange index were close to the mean or distributed homogenously around it. Chorzów was the only exception for which the political elite exchange index was significantly lower than the mean for each year. The mean index of “political elite exchange” was higher in 2002 than in other years, while the expected means of 2006, 2010, and 2014 differ insignificantly. The analyses revealed a relatively stable composition of the elites. The summary contains conclusions and recommendations.