Most media evaluate Slovakia as the most successful European country in the fight against the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Such excellent results have been…
Abstract
Purpose
Most media evaluate Slovakia as the most successful European country in the fight against the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Such excellent results have been achieved in a really specific period – the change of the government overlapped the initial days of the outbreak of the pandemic in the country. The goal of this viewpoint paper is to investigate how individual public leaders (Prime Ministers) shaped the governance response, how these key political leaders have helped to make the transition to a new government so seamless in times of crisis.
Design/methodology/approach
Qualitative approach is used to map the situation and to show how key political leaders shaped the governance response to the crisis. The official government COVID-19 web page and core national media were investigated to collect the necessary information for our research.
Findings
The most positive finding of this article is the fact that the departing Prime Minister Pellegrini did not decide to wait till the end of office in a passive or moderate way, but managed during last days of office of “his” government to realize a set of really comprehensive measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in Slovakia. Politics has been set a bit aside; coalition and opposition parties prioritized the need to fight COVID-19 instead of the need for permanent political fights.
Originality/value
The article introduces the example of the political “takeover” during the crisis, which has been realized in such positive ways, especially thanks to the fact that Pellegrini behaved as a real national leader just a few days before leaving office.
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The current Covid-19 crisis research focuses especially on epidemiologic and macro-level socioeconomic aspects. It only marginally covers impacts on local budgets. Our intention…
Abstract
Purpose
The current Covid-19 crisis research focuses especially on epidemiologic and macro-level socioeconomic aspects. It only marginally covers impacts on local budgets. Our intention is to enrich the existing limited debate on this dimension.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper uses a qualitative research approach and is based on secondary research and information available in restrictive regulations of national governments, data published by governmental bodies, international statistics and media articles published before 30 June 2020. The authors also conducted six non-structured online interviews with the leading question: “How do you see the current and future impacts of the pandemic on local public finance?”
Findings
Available information on Czechia and Slovakia indicates that the level of municipal fiscal imbalance as the result of the Covid-19 crisis is not proportional to the situation on the central level, and municipal financial resources are not commensurate with their responsibilities as outlined by the constitution and the law. Because the reaction of the central government in both countries to this situation has been inadequate, municipalities will face problems with service delivery in some areas, especially in culture and sport.
Originality/value
The authors enrich the growing debate about the current Covid-19 crisis and its consequences and focus on local government finance in two selected countries from Central and Eastern Europe.
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Michiel De Vries and Juraj Nemec
– The purpose of this article is to discuss the idea that new public management (NPM) would be passé.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this article is to discuss the idea that new public management (NPM) would be passé.
Design/methodology/approach
The article is based on a review of existing theories.
Findings
The article argues that NPM has two dimensions, namely the minimization of the role of government vis-à-vis society and the improvement of the internal performance of the public sector. Whereas the first dimension is indeed more and more disputed nowadays this does not imply this also goes for the second dimension. The conclusion of this article calls for explanatory empirical research in order to explain the increasing variance in reforms among countries, by investigating which factors are determinative for decisions by governments to turn one way or the other.
Practical implications
It is far from certain which way the public sector is heading in the so-called post-NPM era. Some countries are still implementing NPM-kind of reforms, either by downsizing or by introducing performance management. Other countries have chosen alternative paths. All this implies an increased variance between countries in the direction public sector reforms take. It requires quite different support from administrative sciences compared to the one-size-fits-all recommendations for public sector reforms – in conformity with the maxims of NPM – as witnessed in the past decades.
Originality/value
The article contributes to the discussion about the role of NPM today. It presents original conclusions about diverging developments based on the unique comprehensive literature review on the topic.