1,721,938 research outputs found
Democracy by competition : referenda and federalism in Switzerland. by Bruno S. Frey and Iris Bohnet
No full texttag=1 data=Democracy by competition : referenda and federalism in Switzerland. by Bruno S. Frey and Iris Bohnet
tag=2 data=Frey, Bruno S.%Bohnet, Iris
tag=3 data=Publius : The Journal of Federalism,
tag=4 data=23
tag=5 data=2
tag=6 data=Spring 1993
tag=7 data=71-81.
tag=8 data=REFERENDUMS
tag=10 data=Competition is not only a prerequisite for the successful working of economics but also of political coordination systems. We argue that popular referenda and federalism are the key factors in maintaining competition in the political arena.
tag=11 data=1993/5/10
tag=12 data=93/0611
tag=13 data=CABCompetition is not only a prerequisite for the successful working of economics but also of political coordination systems. We argue that popular referenda and federalism are the key factors in maintaining competition in the political arena
Direct Democracy for a Living Constitution
Get PDFThe development of the constitution must be based on the rule of law. Direct democratic rights allow citizens to participate in the amendment process. The direct democratic process of institutional change is theoretically and empirically analyzed. A number of counter arguments and issues for a gradual introduction are discussed. --
Organizational Control Systems and Pay-for-Performance in the Public Service
Get PDFUnder certain conditions, output related performance measurement and pay-for-performance produce negative outcomes. We argue that in public service, these negative effects are stronger than in the private sector. We combine Behavioural Economics and Management Control Theory to determine under which conditions this is the case. We suggest as alternatives to the dominant output related pay-for-performance systems selection and socialization, exploratory use of output performance measures, and awards
How a multiple orientation of control reduces governance failures: a focus on monastic auditing
Get PDFThis paper considers multiple control systems at the organizational level and argues for a nuanced and multifaceted approach for internal governance. For this undertaking, we look at a little-examined control and
auditing instrument, the formalized audit procedures of Roman Catholic orders. These so-called visitations are
one important pillar in the monastic governance system to counter aberrations. Utilizing surveys and interviews,
we examine 106 Roman Catholic religious communities in Austria, Germany and Switzerland, and connect these visitations procedures with rule violations and sexual abuse cases. We argue that communities unaffected by scandals and rule violations rely strongly on process and clan control to address inefficiency and misconduct; whereas, affected communities focus more on business issues.
We caution against the trend of relying predominantly on output-based processes while suggesting a balance between different types of control systems. Further more, we enhance the current discourse by considering implementation procedures of control. The religious orders attach great importance to the way control measures are carried out. To steer the behavior of their members, many successful orders even complement controls with personal support and identity strengthening
Recent developments in the economics of happiness: a selective overview
Get PDFWhat makes people happy in life? This is a crucial question that has the potential to shake up economics. In recent years, the dissatisfaction with the understanding of welfare in economics together with the new opportunities to empirically study people’s subjective wellbeing have spurred impressive and stimulating new research in the often called dismal science. The economics of happiness has emerged as one of the most thriving areas in current economic research. This introductory chapter refers to important contributions to the economics of happiness that characterize the recent developments in the area. First, we refer to reviews of the literature, the measurement and the relationship of happiness research to welfare economics. Second, we emphasize four factors from the large literature on the determinants of happiness in economics, i.e. income, employment, social capital and health. In fact, the main body of research in this new area is on the preconditions or covariates of high individual well-being. Third, important studies applying the so-called Life Satisfaction Approach as an alternative valuation approach are discussed. Fourth, we point to contributions that elaborate on the understanding of utility in terms of people’s adaptation to circumstances and their difficulties in predicting future utility. Fifth, we provide references to the controversial question regarding the policy consequences of this new development
Le chercheur et l’obligation de rendre des comptes
Get PDFLe mouvement dit du New Public Management, venu tout droit des pays anglo-saxons, a introduit l’idée de gérer les services publics comme des entreprises, et donc d’utiliser des indicateurs de production comme outils de mesure de la performance. Le monde de la recherche n’échappe pas à ce traitement et doit rendre des comptes. L’article ne porte pas tant sur la question de fond de la liberté de la recherche universitaire par rapport à l’Etat que sur les dérives entraînées par ces indicateurs numériques de production auxquels les chercheurs sont aujourd’hui soumis. Non seulement ces méthodes sont inadaptées à la nature de l’activité recherche, mais elles risquent d’avoir un impact négatif sur la créativité même de la recherche. Les coûts de l’obligation du rendu de comptes (démotivation des chercheurs, renforcement de la « science normale », etc.) risquent d’être plus élevés que les bénéfices escomptés. Aussi les auteurs proposent-ils, pour améliorer la recherche publique, d’autres voies qui s’inspirent de la recherche en science de gestion
The use of happiness research for public policy
Get PDFResearch on happiness tends to follow a "benevolent dictator" approach where politicians pursue people's happiness. This paper takes an antithetic approach based on the insights of public choice theory. First, we inquire how the results of happiness research may be used to improve the choice of institutions. Second, we show that the policy approach matters for the choice of research questions and the kind of knowledge happiness research aims to provide. Third, we emphasize that there is no shortcut to an optimal policy maximizing some happiness indicator or social welfare function since governments have an incentive to manipulate this indicator
Tullock challenges : happiness, revolutions, and democracy
Get PDFGordon Tullock is one of the most important of the founders and contributors to Public Choice. Two innovations are typical "Tullock Challenges." The first relates to method: the measurement of subjective well-being, or happiness. The second relates to digital social networks, such as Facebook, Twitter, and to some extent Google. Both innovations lead to strong incentives by governments to manipulate the policy outcomes. In general, "What is important will be manipulated by the government." To restrain government manipulation, one has to turn to Constitutional Economics and increase the possibilities for direct popular participation and federalism or introduce random mechanisms
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