Policy & Governance Review
Not a member yet
219 research outputs found
Sort by
Empowering Bureaucracies in Municipal International Policies: Organizational Structures and Governance Transformation of Japanese Municipal Overseas Offices in Southeast Asia
Full text linkIn today's globalized society, achieving balanced national development requires regional strategies that emphasize both domestic and international collaboration. Municipalities must attract foreign tourists, promote local product exports, and support SMEs' overseas expansion. These policies shifted from traditional administrative approaches to those demanding short-term results and practical benefits. This necessitates innovative policy formulation by entrepreneurial municipalities. This study explores the organizational and governance structures that strengthen local bureaucratic systems to effectively implement these international policies. The research methodology includes analyzing policy documents related to Japanese municipal international policies and conducting field interviews with 36 expatriates, primarily from Japanese municipal overseas offices in Singapore and Bangkok, between 2020 and 2023. The findings reveal that in the VUCA era, international municipal networks evolved from one-on-one sister-city relationships to multi-city networks focused on information sharing and project development. Additionally, the organizational structures of international policy-executing bodies increasingly involve partnerships with national agencies and collaborations between municipalities and private companies, including outsourcing certain tasks. Based on these insights, this study presents a developmental model that categorizes international municipal policies into three stages: Traditional Administration, New Public Management, and Network Governance. It also offers policy recommendations for leadership, policy evaluation, and human resource development to empower local bureaucracies
The Corruption Formula: Possibilities of Corruption in Government Service Delivery in Liberia
Full text linkCorruption in government services has become a relevant topic of study. This study examines the possibility of corruption in Liberian government services. Previous analyses are still limited to identifying the specific possibilities driving corruption in government services in developing countries. This study uses a qualitative method with a case study approach guided by the Corruption Formula theory across three indicators: monopoly of power (M), discretion by officials (D), and lack of accountability (A), expressed as C=M+D-A. PPrimary data were collected through in-depth interviews with key informants. Secondary data were collected from documentation, journals, newspapers, etc., and analyzed using NVIVO 12 Plus software. The findings revealed the following: (1) service providers have a high monopoly over services, as they often use their dominant positions for personal gain; (2) there is a lot of discretion by officials, giving them the freedom to manipulate systems and engage in illicit activities without clear oversight; and (3) there is limited accountability to hold individuals and institutions answerable for their actions, as officials constantly engage in wrongdoings without facing legal consequences. This study closes the gap in understanding corruption in government services with evidence from Liberia, emphasizing the need for policymakers to enhance the integrity of public services
An Exploratory Study on How Civil Servants Resolve the Paradoxes of the "Iron Cage" of Bureaucracy in a "VUCA" World
Full text linkThis study explores how Vietnamese civil servants address the complex paradoxes created by the "iron cage" of bureaucracy, particularly within the volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous (VUCA) environment of modern public administration. Using in-depth qualitative interviews with 30 public officials from diverse regions and roles, this study uncovered a nuanced spectrum of adaptive strategies, including compliance, accommodation, collectivization, inertia, and distortion. By integrating classical and contemporary bureaucracy theories with real-world accounts, this study highlights how traditional hierarchical cultures and rigid procedures simultaneously support stability and impede effective adaptation. Comparative analysis of global and regional public sector reforms reveals both the unique and shared dilemmas faced by Vietnamese officials. The findings have significant implications for policy reforms, organizational change, and future research on state capacity, accountability, and innovation in developing countries. This paper argues that successful bureaucratic adaptation in a VUCA world requires balancing institutional orders with responsible discretion and fostering a culture of learning, resilience, and ethical public services
Macroeconomic Risk, Idiosyncratic Risk, and Corporate Leverage: Policy Implications for Financial Governance in Indonesia
Full text linkThis study examines the influence of macroeconomic and firm-specific risks on the leverage of publicly listed Indonesian manufacturing and non-financial service firms. It also breaks down the divergence between sectors of risk responsiveness, which, in the capital structure literature for emerging markets, remains mostly uninvestigated. Using a sample of 99 publicly listed firms on the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) from 2010 to 2019, we apply an Instrumental Variable (IV) and system- GMM estimator to control for endogeneity. The findings suggest that increasing macroeconomic risk and reducing firm-specific risk induces leverage, especially among service firms. These results also have policy implications for guiding firms in aligning their finance strategies to the sectoral risk they face and for assisting in formulating tailored policies that maintain robustness in the form of financial industry stability and corporate growth
Artificial Intelligence as A Driver of Digital Government Transformation: Applications and Trends in Government Operations in the Philippines
Full text linkDigital transformation in government operations hastens transparency, efficiency, and customer satisfaction, and the application of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) can optimize digitalization initiatives. This study sought to identify the digitalization and digital transformation policies of the Philippine government and explore how AI technologies can be leveraged in government operations, specifically in frontline services, human resource management, and financial services. Document reviews are the primary methods. It examined legal government documents, published journal articles, and papers. Digital government transformation is still in its foundational/ initiation phase. However, it is noticeable that national policies on AI strategy are set, political support is evident, and government agencies are already leading the digitalization of their services. As AI adoption in digital government transformation has gained traction, there is a need to utilize AI technologies and algorithms to accelerate these efforts, thereby spurring economic growth. Potential AI technologies applicable to these identified services include predictive analytics, deep learning, neural networks, RNN, CNN, and recommender systems, among others
Local Pathways to the National Leadership?: International Perspectives on Southeast Asia’s Presidential Democracies
Full text linkThis study analyzed how local leaders with no prior experience in countrywide politics could win national elections, focusing on Jejomar Binay and Joko Widodo in Southeast Asia's unitary presidential states: the Philippines and Indonesia. This study aims to contribute to the scant literature on outsider candidates and local-to-national leadership transitions. Using public administration theories on populism, participatory governance, and decision making, we propose a theoretical framework for analyzing these electoral triumphs. It is noteworthy that while past leaders experienced in national politics, the military, or business typically won high-level positions in these two countries, they did not. In this context, this study used qualitative methods (documentary research and thematic analysis of academic sources, communications, and campaign approaches) to examine local politicians' victories in their countries' highest echelons of power
Versions of Transformation: Insights On Good Local Governance In Low-Income Cities In The Philippines
Full text link The economic status of a local government is not a determinant of its governance quality. In the case of Philippine cities, the Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) award conferment demonstrates that good institutional performance is achievable regardless of income classification. Annually, awards come from the entire income class spectrum, from the highly urbanized city to the poorest, albeit inconsistently. This study examines the factors found in low-income cities that perform well, despite resource limitations. Using the cases of the cities of Balanga and Lamitan – consistent SGLG awardees – this qualitative study suggests that sociocultural factors (e.g., social networks), rather than socioeconomic factors (e.g., income), influence local government performance. As seen in its dense social networks, a city's stock of social capital manifests as active civic participation that reinforces good institutional performance. Similarly, local chief executives with substantial social capital influence good governance and have potential to become local policy entrepreneurs. They thrive in low-income cities due to the networks and resources that allow them to innovate. The results of this study emphasize the importance of civic participation in improving the institutional performance of local governments
Educational Technology for Digital Transformation of Higher Education Institutions into Entrepreneurial Universities
Full text linkDigital technology is transforming higher education institutions into entrepreneurial universities, which, in turn, supports economic development and knowledge generation. The integration of education technology enhances access, equity, inclusion, and the quality of learning experiences. This research aims to uncover how educational technology promotes digital transformation in Indonesia's higher education, fosters an entrepreneurial mindset, and contributes to social and economic growth. This study uses a quantitative approach with a survey method, with the data collected using purposive sampling. The questionnaire was designed to represent the indicators set in the variables, and the results were analyzed using the structural equation modeling (SEM) method. This study analyzes 45 universities aiming to become entrepreneurial institutions, with 155 respondents filling out the questionnaire. The integration of educational technology and digital transformation in higher education has significant implications, affecting teaching methods, administrative efficiency, and the educational environment. The entrepreneurial university model emphasizes collaboration and responsiveness to market needs, preparing graduates for a competitive job market. This shift requires a reassessment of traditional teaching methods and a shift in mission. The successful integration requires strategic planning, transformational leadership, investment in digital infrastructure, and fostering a culture of innovation