ADMINISTRATIVE CAPACITY AND INSTITUTIONAL DESIGN IN NATIONAL LOCAL GOVERNMENT FUNDING: AN EX-ANTE EVALUATION OF THE “ANTONIS TRITSIS” PROGRAM IN GREECE

Evangelos MAKRYVELIOS

Postdoctoral Researcher, Department of Business Administration, School of Economics and Political Sciences, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens 105 59, Greece

vmakrivelios@ba.uoa.gr

(Corresponding AUTHOR)

Theodore PAPADOGONAS

Professor, Department of Business Administration, School of Economics and Political Sciences, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens 105 59, Greece

thpap@ba.uoa.gr

Abstract

This paper discusses the design, administrative sufficiency, and perceived efficiency of the Antonis Tritsis special development program to support the local government in Greece. The analysis will take an ex-ante evaluation which will look at the capacity of an administration, the institution design and the conditions of implementation of programs directly than the actual economic outcomes. The empirical research is founded on theoretical questionnaire and structured interviews with top managers, who are personally engaged in the program designing, financing, and monitoring, and is supported with S.W.O.T. analysis. The goal is to embed the perceptions of the strategic appropriateness, institutional functionality as well as implementation constraints with an focus on the inequality in administrative capacity between the municipalities and institutional complexity. The results indicate that the program can be viewed as strategically significant and financially innovative especially because the entire funding of the project financial sources was in place. At the same time, limitations related to the uneven administrative capacity of local authorities, institutional complexity, and the need to strengthen technical support, especially for small and island municipalities, are highlighted. The study contributes to the literature on local governance by offering evidence-based policy guidance for the design of more effective and equitable funding programs.

Keywords: E-ante evaluation, administrative capacity, public investments, local government, Greece

JEL classification: H70, H72, R10, R50, R58, D73

pp. 13-36

read more

THE IMPLEMENTATION OF SOCIAL PROTECTION POLICIES AT LOCAL LEVEL ACCORDING TO INCLUSIVE AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Anastasios SEPETIS

Assistant Professor, Sustainable Development Policies and Finances and Social Protection,  Department of Business Administration, University of West Attica (http://www.ba.uniwa.gr/), Member of the Social Administration Laboratory of the University of West Attica (https://sarl.uniwa.gr/)

tsepet@uniwa.gr

Abstract

The term inclusive and  sustainable development first appeared in the 21st century and has been accepted in academic texts and political institutions. Some scientific and institutional bodies argue that sustainable development policies at regional and local level should identify new approaches to social protection policies at local level in the context of inclusive and sustainable development. The extensive literature review of the study found that regional and local communities clearly have an important role to play in developing new policies and applied operational strategies of social protection at local level according to inclusive and sustainable development . This study also presents policies, defines the concept, proposes qualitative metrics, analyzes international and European social protection policies at local level in the context of inclusive and sustainable development. It concludes that regions, cities, local social stakeholders, must harmonise the basic principles of social protection policies and take an active role in fulfilling the regional/local objectives of Inclusive and Sustainable Development.

Keywords: Social Protection, Inclusive Development, Inclusive Growth, Sustainable Development, Sustainable Regions, Sustainable Cities.

JEL classification: R10, Q01, Q50, G10, G30, H10, H30, H70

 pp. 111-130

read more

PLACE-BASED POLICY RESPONSES TO SPATIAL INEQUALITIES

Daniela- Luminița CONSTANTIN

Professor at the Department of Administration and Public Management, The Bucharest University of Economic Studies; Bucharest, Romania

danielaconstantin_2005@yahoo.com

Clara-Alexandra VOLINTIRU

Professor at the Department of International Business and Economics, The Bucharest University of Economic Studies; Bucharest, Romania

clara.volintiru@gmail.com

Abstract

This paper aims to contribute a review of the recent literature on spatial inequalities at subnational level, building on the main foundations of regional studies and specific preoccupations with this subject. The overview of the literature has sought to derive key trends and to identify current knowledge frontiers and debates. It has been deployed on a comprehensive and systematic research of the relevant sources of the past decades and has been structured into three main parts, namely: (1) basic contributions and recent and state-of-the-art literature, (2) current debates, open issues or questions and (3) policy implications. The undertaken inquiries point to a variety of approaches, from those which bring into the spotlight the ‘left-behind places’, the ‘places that don’t matter’ (and their revenge), the ‘geography of discontent’, etc. to those proposing an entire typology for the lagging regions, revealing the interest of both academic community and policy-makers in this subject. The policies gravitate around place-based solutions, which, without neglecting the strongest European regions, aim to support the weaker regions as well. They go beyond simple compensatory measures, concentrating on the turning to good account of the untapped potential of the left-behind places. Moreover, building on the up-to-date findings and useful lessons, the current orientations regarding the future of the Cohesion Policy and the European growth model point to the need of a deeper integration of place-based and people-based approaches, in accordance with the spatial justice desideratum, as well as to the ambition “to bring EU closer to citizens and to leave no one behind” (European Commission, 2023, p.5), in the complex context generated by the ongoing transitions – energy, digital, industrial ones – and COVID-19 recovery.

Keywords: spatial inequalities, European Union, spatial justice, place-based solutions, people-based approaches

JEL classification: R10, R11, R28, R58,

 pp. 43-62

read more