Authors:Lucian Croitoru Pages: 5 - 19 Abstract: After World War II, democracies witnessed transformations that were and are much more lenient vis-à-vis the rise in inflation. The main institutional changes that have occurred gradually ever since and can combine nowadays to fuel inflation refer to (i) the shift in ideas referring to equality and redistribution, (ii) the labor market policies, (iii) bringing man’s natural environment to the level of importance of the social environment, with a particular focus on climate, and (iv) preserving a large capacity of the government to produce inflation in a context in which political power has granted independence to the central bank in terms of monetary policy. We show how features of society listed under items (i)- (iv) had combined to lead to low and stable inflation during 1982-2008, to lower than desired inflation during 2009-2020, and to the high inflation starting with 2021. The inflation-taming efforts succeeded only when three elements acted jointly: (A) raising the interest rate while no longer considering the inflation-unemployment tradeoff, impacting features (ii) and (iv); (B) adjusting budget deficits and stabilizing fiscal expectations, impacting feature (iv); (C) measures for reviving economic freedom, with an impact on features (i), (ii), and (iii). DOI: 10.24193/tras.68E.1 Issue No:Vol. 19, No. 68
Authors:Remzi Keco, Ilir Tomorri, Kejsi Tomorri Pages: 20 - 33 Abstract: Albania has passed a period of three decades in the shift from a centralized to a market economy. In this context, the public sector is confronted by structural changes at the institutional level and the extension and improvement of public services.Electronic services’ quality is a critical issue for the failure or success of e-government objectives. It promotes government efficiency and effectiveness, citizen engagement, and satisfaction. The trend to use electronic services in Albania is similarly driven by efforts to reduce public sector corruption, improve service performance, and reduce costs. The goal of this paper is to evaluate the citizen’s perception of the importance and the quality of e-services provision by the e-Albania gateway, as well as obstacles and challenges of the future. Based on the main types of services provided by the e-Albania platform, twelve indicators were considered. The survey took place in Albania (Tirana region), wherein 190 questionnaires are applied. The main reason for this selection is that Tirana is the largest region of the country, with about 50% of the population concentration and the highest number of users of the government electronic platform. The variables used are qualitative variables and were measured according to the Likert scale (1–5 estimation, from 1–strongly disagree to 5–strongly agree). Each of the main variables is explained and measured through the evaluation of three to five explanatory questions. Through the SPSS program, cluster analysis was used to evaluate the main variables.By analyzing the collected data, it turns out that there is an obvious increase in the number of public services offered, as well as the perception of citizens for the e-services provided by the government platform. DOI: 10.24193/tras.68E.2 Issue No:Vol. 19, No. 68
Authors:Hakyeon Lee, J.S. Butler, Joowon Jeong Pages: 34 - 57 Abstract: Administrative innovation is defined as changes to the rules and structures that characterize the communication methods and work of employees within an organization, and technological innovation refers to the implementation of programs and services. This study examines the relationship between administrative and technological innovation using two environmental factors, namely leadership and organizational culture, as indirect variables.Using structural equation modeling on a 2015 Korea Institute of Public Administration survey, this study finds that there are no direct effects between administrative innovation and technological innovation. However, results indicate that a strong organizational culture positively affects the relationship between administrative and technological innovation, and leadership in an organization plays a similar role to that of organizational culture. These findings suggest that changing the rules of are organization alone is not enough to lead to technological innovation, which must be supported by a strong culture and leadership. DOI: 10.24193/tras.68E.3 Issue No:Vol. 19, No. 68
Authors:Mihaela Onofrei, Georgeta Vintilă, Cosmina Ștefania Chiricu, Florin Oprea Pages: 58 - 77 Abstract: The main aim of our empirical analysis is to quantify the social impact of fiscal policies on income redistribution throughout the EU Member States on a database of fiscal, social and economic factors. Our research is conducted by using the Gini coefficient as the indicator of income redistribution, as well as the dependent variable, and the following influencing variables: taxes, index of perception of corruption, tax burden, education level, human development index, private property protection, unemployment rate, GDP per capita, private and public expenditure. Hence, by employing both the ‘Least squares’ method and the ‘Generalized Method of Moments’ we have identified significant results which highlight important social and economic development discrepancies throughout the EU Member States, as well as different fiscal policies and legislative frameworks. Moreover, by testing the robustness of the variables, we have identified that taxes exert more negative effects according to the degree of their regressivity. Our results offer strong empirical evidence supporting the idea that beyond designing more balanced fiscal systems (by the use or weight of direct/indirect taxes), public authorities should target the reduction of income inequalities using other instruments and reforms beside the fiscal ones (education, rule of law, legislative systems quality). DOI: 10.24193/tras.68E.4 Issue No:Vol. 19, No. 68
Authors:Marijana Pantić, Nataša Čolić Pages: 78 - 95 Abstract: Planning practice in Serbia is influenced by the transition to more efficient governance, including the digitalization of public administration. Urban areas adapt faster to new requirements in comparison to digital transition in rural areas (RA) and mountain areas (MA). This research aims to provide an understanding of the contextual factors for digital public participation in MA in the example of Serbia, with a focus on the Golija-Studenica Biosphere Reserve. The analysis is based on the contextual factors recognized in the recent literature and their testing through the available statistical data.The results suggest that RA, especially MA, have advantages in comparison to the national average only regarding a smaller share of vulnerable groups, including women. On the other hand, disadvantages are an aging population, a low level of technological equipment, and accessibility to technological advancement and knowledge. Findings suggest that future public participation formats in MA should be hybrid. DOI: 10.24193/tras.68E.5 Issue No:Vol. 19, No. 68
Authors:Ji Hyung Park Pages: 96 - 113 Abstract: This study offers lessons for overcoming future economic crises by examining whether democratic management helped local governments recover their financial condition. During the Great Recession, local governments were forced to make painful decisions regarding increased taxes and user charges, and cuts in public services. Several case studies provide evidence that citizen participation allows localities to increase property taxes as well as cut public services. However, broader, systematic empirical research is lacking. This study found that local governments with participatory budgeting were more likely to improve their financial condition during the Great Recession. The results allow us to identify the role of citizens in fiscal decision-making, offering lessons on how local governments can overcome possible fiscal crises in the future. DOI: 10.24193/tras.68E.6 Issue No:Vol. 19, No. 68
Authors:Sandro Tabatadze, Salome Dundua Pages: 114 - 131 Abstract: In education policymaking, policy transfer can be seen as one of the practical tools. The cons and pros of the process are clearly manifested in post-socialist countries where the education system started to change fundamentally after regaining independence in line with increased interest from donor organizations. The article deals with the process of education policy transfer based on the case of the National Assessment and Examination Center of Georgia. The proposed orthodox framework of policy transfer and data analysis allows us to draw main conclusions to answer the research question: what makes education policy transfer successful' Besides hindering factors, such as challenging socio-cultural environment and vertical administration of the education system, there are some facilitating factors: continuous political support, a motivated team that knows how to build organizational culture, communicate effectively with all stakeholders, feels the local context, and tries to establish foreign policy transfer networks. These key determinants can make education policy transfer successful. The methodological approach and conclusions of the article can be used by scholars from post-socialist education research and beyond who are interested in determining the causes and results of education policy transfer. DOI: 10.24193/tras.68E.7 Issue No:Vol. 19, No. 68
Authors:Okala Agwu Uche, Charity Ngozi Uzuegbu, Ijeoma Blessing Uche Pages: 132 - 148 Abstract: Project sustainability is a concern for community development practitioners. An aspect of community development is sustainability which implies that benefits derived from executed projects are maintained and continue as long as the project exists. The strong commitment of the local people, leadership and other local resources are needed to resuscitate executed projects in the community. This study explores strategies for promoting the sustainability of community development projects in Southeast Nigeria.The study adopted cluster and purposive sampling techniques. A total of eight communities from four Local Government Areas (LGAs) from two states in Southeast Nigeria were sampled for the study. The Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) and in-depth interviews (IDIs) served as data collection instruments. The study sample size comprised 88 participants. The information produced for the research was analyzed thematically.Findings showed that while the numerous community development projects in the study areas can account for some developmental interest, they also created opportunities for neglect. To promote the sustainability of community development projects, a holistic approach is crucial and interventions must be indigenous and people-oriented. Also, social workers need to create dialogue forums with community members to help attain the goal of project sustainability. DOI: 10.24193/tras.68E.8 Issue No:Vol. 19, No. 68
Authors:Matija Vodopivec, Milan Vodopivec, Suzana Laporšek Pages: 149 - 163 Abstract: Can activation programs be considered a ‘magic wand’ that triggers a change of incentives, with little or no costs, and produces real gains in terms of improved job-finding rates' The paper reviews the literature on the experience of OECD countries with such programs in five areas: strengthening job-search requirements, compulsory participation in active labor market programs, stricter monitoring, and imposing sanctions. Programs are judged in terms of duration of unemployment, probability of finding a job, and post-unemployment outcomes such as the level of wages and quality of jobs. Our review finds strong evidence that activation programs can increase the job-finding rates of individuals receiving unemployment or social assistance benefits. At the same time, it cautions that programs may have adverse side effects, ranging from increased exits into inactivity to lower quality of post-unemployment jobs, as well as negative indirect effects on the job prospects of non-participants. DOI: 10.24193/tras.68E.9 Issue No:Vol. 19, No. 68
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