Search

This article studies the difference in the government response to COVID-19 in Norway and Sweden drawing upon theories of agenda setting, crisis management and multi-level governance. Despite having virtually identical systems of government and, initially, facing similar infection threats, Sweden opted for far less strict countermeasures than Norway. While Norway's government response was similar to that of many European countries, Sweden received international attention for choosing befuddlingly soft measures, mostly recommendations and guidelines. This divergence is discussed vis-à-vis the multiple streams lens of agenda setting theory, highlighting differences in institutional and organisational legacies (e.g., the autonomy of government agencies) and intergovernmental relations (e.g., whether infectious disease expertise and authority is located at the local level). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Czech Republic and Slovakia rank among the extremely fragmented European countries in terms of their local government structure. In addition to local governments, regional governments were established in both countries in connection with EU accession, which means that policy making is framed at three levels in both countries. If it applies that more centralised structures are, generally, easier to coordinate in crisis situations, then these two decentralised post-communist countries offer a great laboratory for examining how this unexpected pandemic crisis that has affected all socio-political and economic levels and structures has been handled in a very fragmented environment. We intend to examine the behaviour of individual levels of government, measures adopted by the governments and their expected and unexpected impacts during the first wave of a pandemic crisis with a special focus on possible changes in the systems of multi-level governance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article is aimed at analysing local and intergovernmental responses to the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany during the 'first wave' of the pandemic. It will answer the question of how the intergovernmental system in Germany responded to the crisis and to what extent the pandemic has changed patterns of multi-level governance (MLG). The article argues that the coordination of pandemic management in Germany shifted between two ideal types of multi-level governance. While in the first phase of the pandemic the territorially defined multi-level system with the sub-national and local authorities as key actors of crisis management was predominant, in the second phase a more functional orientation with increased vertical coordination gained in importance. Later on, more reliance was given again on local decision-making. Based on this analysis, we will draw some preliminary conclusions on how effective MLG in Germany has been for coordinating pandemic management and point out the shortcomings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article examines the essential determinants of decentralization and its main elements. Considerable attention is paid to scientific and theoretical aspects of the impact of fiscal decentralization on local economic development. Priority aspects of realization of bases of fiscal decentralization in the Ukrainian administrative practice are covered. It is proved that the key idea of fiscal decentralization is manifested in the achievement of financial autonomy by local governments through the accumulation of financial resources at a certain level of government. Emphasis is placed on the concept of fiscal federalism and its role in the socio-economic development of administrative entities of unitary states. It is argued that the construction of an effective system of inter-budgetary relations should take into account a range of measures to strengthen the own tax potential of the territorial community. It has been established that recently the tax potential of local self-government bodies has been identified by tax capacity at the expense of three taxes: personal income tax, property tax and single tax. The study showed that fiscal decentralization through the prism of tax, budget and debt instruments can provide a favorable socio-economic climate in local communities. A structural and logical scheme of the impact of key paradigms of fiscal decentralization on the development of united territorial communities in Ukraine has been built. It is proved that fiscal decentralization in the conditions of divergence of interbudgetary relations can become a catalyst for effective fiscal stimulus policy, as delegation of budgetary powers to lower levels, while improving the efficiency of budgetary resources, will allow more fully and regionally respond to regional development and local needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Globally, policy environments have become increasingly more complex with the growth in the number of wicked problems, such as that posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. In their response to these problems, public administrations have, from necessity, become heavily reliant on their intergovernmental relations systems, as the challenges posed generally require multilevel responses. This paper analyzes the role of intergovernmental relations in shaping the responses of the BRICS countries when confronted with COVID-19. We develop an analytical framework to understand the dynamics of intergovernmental relations in these countries. Based on this we assess the capacity of the state and political systems to manage intergovernmental relations and ensure effective responses to the COVID-19 crisis. This framework is based on an analysis of three dimensions of the policy domain: the political and state system, formal and informal institutions, and the political alignment between them. Whilst state and political systems were found to be instrumental in formulating an immediate response to the crisis, informal institutions and political processes also played a prominent role in determining the extent to which strategies were implemented, particularly in countries that are more decentralized. Countries lacking the robust formal institutions needed to facilitate intergovernmental relations and to ensure swift policy responses, tend to deliver ineffective and inefficient results when confronted with wicked problems.

Abstract Colombia’s duality between the relative strength of the central government and the broad process of decentralization towards subnational and local governments has shaped the country’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Substantial tensions have arisen between the national and subnational governments in the handling of the crisis. Thus, blurred policy boundaries challenge multi-level government coordination. Yet, intergovernmental relations and multi-level governance have worked at some extent. Meanwhile, leadership styles, the level of political support, the local governance environment and the level of local institutional capacity have affected the strategies of local government leaders and their success to tackle the pandemic. Moreover, uneven healthcare capacity across the Colombian territory posits further challenges for a national response to the pandemic that ensures both effectiveness and equity.

Robust metropolitan governance is increasingly viewed as necessary to address important economic, social and environmental problems. In this context, this article surveys recent developments in Canadian metropolitan governance. Canada was admired in the post-war period for the effectiveness of its two-tier and unitary metropolitan governments; however, few survive today as urbanisation patterns have become increasingly polycentric and intergovernmental relations more conflictual. Three models have emerged in Canada, sometimes in combination with one another: the multi-purpose regional intergovernmental organisation, the single-purpose metropolitan agency, and the provincial metropolitan policy overlay. Examples of each are discussed, with an emphasis on the interplay of horizontal (intermunicipal) and vertical (provincial–municipal) intergovernmental relations. Ultimately, provincial governments are by virtue of their constitutional authority and spending power the only actors capable of establishing and maintaining durable institutions and policies of metropolitan scope, and they have chosen to do so in Canada’s largest and most urbanised provinces.

Background: The national development roadmap of the Zimbabwean government emphasises devolution as a fundamental plank in alleviating poverty and regional inequalities. However, the government is grappling with the transition to a devolved government system. Aim: This article aimed to explore the critical success factors for guiding the devolution process in Zimbabwe. Setting: The research is descriptive in nature and provides a detailed analysis of the devolution processes in Zimbabwe. Methods: The article is theoretical, and considered a qualitative, descriptive research approach. Results: The article argues that devolution has the potential to achieve the intended benefits if implementation fundamentals are in place. Conclusion: The article provides the political, fiscal, legislative, and institutional reforms critical for the successful implementation of devolution. These reforms are complementary and mutually reinforcing in facilitating the transition to a devolved government system.

The article examines the essential determinants of decentralization and its main elements. Considerable attention is paid to scientific and theoretical aspects of the impact of fiscal decentralization on local economic development. Priority aspects of realization of bases of fiscal decentralization in the Ukrainian administrative practice are covered. It is proved that the key idea of ​​fiscal decentralization is manifested in the achievement of financial autonomy by local governments through the accumulation of financial resources at a certain level of government. Emphasis is placed on the concept of fiscal federalism and its role in the socio-economic development of administrative entities of unitary states. It is argued that the construction of an effective system of inter-budgetary relations should take into account a range of measures to strengthen the own tax potential of the territorial community. It has been established that recently the tax potential of local self-government bodies has been identified by tax capacity at the expense of three taxes: personal income tax, property tax and single tax. The study showed that fiscal decentralization through the prism of tax, budget and debt instruments can provide a favorable socio-economic climate in local communities. A structural and logical scheme of the impact of key paradigms of fiscal decentralization on the development of united territorial communities in Ukraine has been built. It is proved that fiscal decentralization in the conditions of divergence of interbudgetary relations can become a catalyst for effective fiscal stimulus policy, as delegation of budgetary powers to lower levels, while improving the efficiency of budgetary resources, will allow more fully and regionally respond to regional development and local needs.

The plethora of service delivery protests in South Africa have rekindled a debate on government efficiency and effectiveness, hence the need to review the government's ole role. Having reviewed extensive literature, this article argued that policy integration across the three spheres of government is sine qua non for effective governance. This article examines the significance of policy integration as a vital adjunct for intergovernmental relations and cooperative governance. Policy integration significantly diminishes the risk of unintended consequences as a results of potentially contradictory objectives. It improves efficiency and effectiveness in the implementation of government programs. Integration and coordination also eliminate waste, avoid inordinate delays while avoiding possible conflict and duplication of roles and responsibilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While much has been written about the instrumental roles of Intergovernmental Relations (IGR) in the promotion of co-operative government between the national, provincial and local spheres of government in South Africa, limited attention has been paid to the intergovernmental management of environmental changes between provincial governments and municipalities in the local sphere of government. As a result, critical linkages, challenges and opportunities, as well as synergies between the two spheres, often go unnoticed. Focusing on the nexus between provincial and local governments, and using the case study of Limpopo Province, this study enquires on the role of the Limpopo Provincial Government in assisting municipalities cope with climate change-related effects in Limpopo Province. Although challenges relating to human resource capacities remain a thorn in the provincial-local relations in managing climate change risks and effects, the consulted municipalities (Greater Letaba and Polokwane) have acknowledged the support role the Limpopo Provincial Department of Economic Development, Environment and Tourism (LEDET) continues to play as a responsible provincial department in the local space. Apart from this, assisting municipalities cope with climate change effects transcends rhetoric and requires more than a provincial intervention. In this regard, this study concludes that the question of human inertia, amongst others, could be resolved through an established national curriculum embedded in the education system of Technical Vocational Education and Training Colleges and some traditional universities. This way, skills crises could be resolved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the factors that influence collaborative relationships between the central and local governments, drawing on the intergovernmental relations theory. Specifically, we examine the impacts of function allocation, personnel and financial relationships, administrative control, contact frequency, and collaborative attitude on intergovernmental collaboration using a comprehensive approach. To do so, this study utilizes a large volume of survey data on intergovernmental relationships collected by the Korean Institute of Public Administration. We found that collaborative attitude and level of satisfaction on fiscal relationships had positive impacts on intergovernmental collaboration across all levels of government, but the priority each level of government placed on other factors varied. Results and implications are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista de Sociologia e Política is the property of Revista de Sociologia e Politica and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

China has long been considered a centralized country. Over the last 30 years, several reforms have gradually transferred important powers to local levels, particularly counties. The article analyzes this evolution based on a field study in two provinces, Zhejiang and Sichuan. The hypothesis is that the transfer of initiatives has become a new way of ‘steering’ counties’ identities in China. This article is based on an analysis from two perspectives. The first is an institutional perspective concerning financial, administrative, and political reform in China; the second is a neo-institutional perspective that examines counties’ identities and the role county-level actors play in territorial development and intergovernmental relations within their provinces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The implicit idea underlying theories of fiscal federalism is that fiscal decentralization can change the composition of government expenditure. That is, regardless of whether decentralization enables governments to more readily reflect citizen preferences regarding spending categories or fosters a race to the bottom with reduced taxation and public service levels, change in the composition of government expenditure may ensue. This study indirectly tests the impact of decentralization with respect to allocative efficiency by examining the relationship between fiscal decentralization and expenditure composition. Utilizing data from 224 local governments in South Korea over the period 2008–2018, the study finds that fiscal decentralization exerts downward pressure on welfare expenditure and that it tends to shift spending from the current to the capital account. Specifically, it finds that it is mainly revenue-side decentralization that affects the allocation of government expenditure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article examines the instruments used in intergovernmental fiscal relations in order to promote economic growth of the regions of the Russian Federation. The task of stimulating regional economic growth is relevant in the need for the Strategy of Spatial Development of the Russian Federation until 2025 to be implemented. The article deals with various instruments of tax decentralization as well as three main types of fiscal transfers: “grants” (primarily equalization or balancing transfers), “subsidies” (earmarked co-funding transfers), and “other intergovernmental transfers” (other earmarked transfers). All these instruments are assessed from the standpoint of stimulating economic growth with special attention being paid to the tools used by regional governments to promote local economic growth. The article summarizes the results of the main econometric studies on the topic. As a result of the present study, it is shown that the main instruments for stimulating regional economic growth are earmarked transfers (primarily capital transfers) and decentralization of taxes on income (primarily corporate income tax). At the same time, since 2015 “other intergovernmental transfers” have been playing a more significant role in stimulating economic growth than “subsidies”, which is associated with an increase in the equalizing effect of the latter. Decentralization of property taxes has most likely not had a significant impact on regional economic growth, and the negative effect of equalizing transfers (“grants”) is smoothed out by special clauses built into the methodology for their distribution.

This study aims to analyze the possibility of a flypaper effect on district and city regional spending in East Java Province, Indonesia. In this study the General Allocation Fund (DAU), Revenue Sharing Fund (DBH), and Local Own Revenue (PAD) are used as independent variables, and Regional Expenditures as the dependent variable used through panel data regression analysis. The results showed that in general from 38 districts and cities in East Java Province in 2011-2018 there was a proven flypaper effect. While DAU, DBH, and PAD have proven to have significant and positive effects on Regional Expenditures.

Abstract Background Universal health coverage is a key target of the Sustainable Development Goals and quality of care is fundamental to its attainment. In South Africa, the National Health Insurance (NHI) system is a major health financing reform towards universal health coverage. The Ideal Clinic Realisation and Maintenance (ICRM) programme aims to improve the quality of care at primary healthcare level in preparation for NHI system implementation. This study draws on Bressers’ Contextual Interaction Theory to explore the wider, structural and specific policy context of the ICRM programme and the influence of this context on policy actors’ motivation, cognition and perceived power. Methods This was a nested qualitative study, conducted in two NHI pilot districts in the Gauteng and Mpumalanga Provinces of South Africa. Following informed consent, we conducted in-depth interviews with key informants involved in the conceptualisation and implementation of the ICRM programme. The questions focused on ICRM policy context, rationale and philosophy, intergovernmental relationships, perceptions of roles and responsibilities in implementation, ICRM programme resourcing, and implementation progress, challenges and constraints. We used thematic analysis, informed by Bressers’ theory, to analyse the data. Results A total of 36 interviews were conducted with key informants from national, provincial and local government. The wider context of the ICRM programme implementation was the drive to improve the quality of care at primary healthcare level in preparation for NHI. However, the context was characterised by contestations about the roles and responsibilities of the three government spheres and weak intergovernmental relationships. Notwithstanding examples of strong local leadership, the disjuncture between two national quality of care initiatives and resource constraints influenced policy actors’ experiences and perceptions of the ICRM programme. They expressed frustrations about the lack of or diffuse accountability and their lack of involvement in decision-making, thus questioning the sustainability of the ICRM programme. Conclusions National health sector reforms should consider the context of policy implementation and potential impact on actors’ motivation, cognition and power. All relevant policy actors should be involved in policy design and implementation. A clear communication strategy and ongoing monitoring and evaluation are prerequisites for implementation success.

A significant differentiation of regions in terms of socio-economic development indicates the need to develop effective policies in the provision of intergovernmental transfers to constituent entities ofthe Russian Federation, aimed at reducing socio-economic differences by ensuring sufficient financial resources necessary for the implementation of their powers. The article considers intergovernmental transfers as a tool for regulation, leveling and development of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation. The directions for improving intergovernmental relations in the formation of the revenue base of budgets are proposed.

Le 17 octobre 2018, le Canada est devenu le premier pays occidental à légaliser le cannabis à des fins récréatives. Ce processus s’est caractérisé par une logique décisionnelle de type top-down et souvent empreinte d’unilatéralisme de la part du gouvernement fédéral. Les provinces disposent néanmoins d’importantes prérogatives sur la question, qu’elles ont utilisées pour s’adapter, voire résister à la politique proposée par le fédéral. À l’aide du concept de stratégies de résistance, cet article analyse la manière dont certaines provinces, et particulièrement le Québec, ont tiré avantage du processus de légalisation pour offrir un contrepoids à la démarche du gouvernement fédéral. Le Québec a ainsi fait usage de stratégies tant offensives que défensives afin de résister à cette politique, de sa formulation à son implantation. Ces résultats mettent en évidence l’importance d’étudier l’étape de la mise en oeuvre de la légalisation, qui a conduit au Canada à une multiplication de politiques différenciées plutôt qu’à un encadrement uniforme.

Background: This research examines the effectiveness and efficiency of the Provincial MuniMEC in facilitating the Inter-Government Relations (IGR) arrangements for improvement provincial service provision mandate in the Eastern Cape Province. Post-1994 local government reforms led to the establishment of wall-to-wall municipalities to accelerate municipal services provision and the introduction of systemic municipal service provision guidelines as part of socio-economic transformation. Objective: The effectiveness and efficiency of this plan remains unclear. This research intends to address this issue with the view to contribute on strategies that can be adopted to improve service provision through the integration of IGR structures. Method: The study adopted a qualitative approach by administering structured questionnaires to purposely selected participants and carefully reviewed various documents and policies in IGR and Local Government. The questionnaire analysis included theoretical propositions that incorporated the efficiency of the provincial MuniMEC IGR structures, the legal IGR framework, and the participatory approach in MuniMEC IGR structures by stakeholders. Result: One core finding is that the MuniMEC IGR structure has contributed to the coordination and integration of government service delivery interventions at municipalities, yet little empirical evidence explains this improvement. Research shows that government’s IGR obligation to coordinate the integration of government service delivery interventions to municipalities could have more impact on service delivery improvement than the utilisation of a single-oriented approach. This study provides lessons on the view that any regulation without a structured implementation plan leads to poor service delivery. A key recommendation is that both the national and provincial government need to promote shared service delivery through the enhancement of the IGR framework.

Copyright of Education Policy Analysis Archives / Archivos Analíticos de Políticas Educativas / Arquivos Analíticos de Políticas Educativas is the property of Educational Policy Analysis Archives & Education Review and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Since the devolution process in the United Kingdom began in 1997, the funding system for devolved institutions has been discussed constantly by academics and in the media, particularly in Scotland. Currently, transfers are regulated under the recently amended Barnett formula, which indexes Block Grant devolutions to English public expenditures and is often considered insufficient to establish a desirable incentive scheme for decentralised institutions. Because of Brexit and its consequences for Britain’s devolution process, tackling this issue has become an urgent issue. The Basque Economic Agreement with Spain, characterised by high levels of tax autonomy and strict fiscal co-responsibility, could conceivably inspire a reconfigured financial relationship between Scotland and Westminster. This paper simulates the mechanical impact of the application of the principles of the Basque Economic Agreement to the Scottish case for devolved government income. Even if it is likely to provide Scotland with a lower expenditure capacity (ceteris paribus), such a scheme could increase fiscal efficiency while also safeguarding self-government and providing the political stability that the United Kingdom needs, given the current weakness of the union due to a challenging socio-economic and political context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Reflexión Politica is the property of Universidad Autonoma de Bucaramanga, UNAB and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Subnational governments have become more involved in the 'regulation of unemployment' (the design, implementation and financing of unemployment-related benefits and activation), partly because they are thought to be better placed to activate the unemployed than federal governments. However, depending on its specific design, decentralization can reduce the incentives subnational governments have to implement effective activation. Such 'institutional moral hazard' is not yet systematically theorized. We examine how and to what extent it affects three federal countries. We distinguish three factors that influence whether institutional moral hazard is perceived as a problem and how it can be resolved. We identify two types of subnational challenges to federal control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intergovernmental relations scholars note a decentralizing trend transferring authority from national to state and local government in the American federalist system. Theory suggests that a misalignment of the interests of national and regional actors may lead to variation in sub-national regulatory environments. We investigate how different sub-national regulatory environments condition the impact of Tribal gaming. Using tribal-state gaming compacts and amendments from 1990–2010, we examine how restrictions in sub-national regulatory agreements condition intended impacts of the 1988 Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. We find that revenue sharing and market restrictions differentially influence the impact of gaming on tribal per capita income but not levels of unemployment. Through the case of Tribal gaming, we determine how sub-national agreements condition the relative accomplishment of policy goals important to Native nations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relevance of the researched problem is conditioned by the civilizational need of globalization entry of Ukraine in the European and world community with further reforming of its system of state administration in the financial sphere. The purpose of the article is based on the study of current world experience and the consequences of budget federalization as a phenomenon, analysis of the current reform situation in Ukraine and the development of useful recommendations for further approbation. The basic method is comparative, which allowed to compare different state and legal systems, in order to identify similarities or differences between them, resulting in a qualitative state of the legal system as a whole and individual legal institution. This allowed us to consider the problem in a holistic manner and from every side. The article analyzes the policy and experience of budget federalism of Ukraine and other countries, analyzes the development of budget legislation of Ukraine and develops recommendations for the Ukrainian legislator for further structural changes in the administration of the financial sector. It is claimed that Ukraine has done significant work in adapting its legislation to European and world practices through the introduction of budget (fiscal) federalism. Recommendations, analysis and review are aimed at adaptation of Ukrainian legislation to world economic systems during the process of globalization and embedding Ukraine in it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of the modern nation-state was an inherently centralising process. Education policy and the institutionalisation of mass public schooling played a key role in this process, facilitating industrialisation and the generation of mass loyalty toward the state. In almost all federal systems, however, education policy remained an exclusive jurisdiction of the sub-federal level, with important long-term implications. Adopting a most dissimilar case design by using two contrasting cases – Canada and Germany – this paper argues that boundary control has been an effective mechanism for sub-federal governments to consolidate and retain authority over education policy, despite recurring pressures for more harmonisation or even uniformity. Although both federations differ profoundly in terms of their institutional characteristics and macro-sociological contexts, boundary control strategies variously allowed sub-federal actors in both federations to thwart efforts of the federal level to assume a greater role in education policy over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista del CLAD Reforma y Democracia is the property of Centro Latinoamericano de Administracion para el Desarrollo (CLAD) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Dados - Revista de Ciências Sociais is the property of DADOS and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Financial equalization of the development of the territories of Eastern European countries directly depends on the order of distribution of functions between public entities and the order of distribution of expenditures between states and individual territories. The studied countries of Eastern Europe belong to the less developed regions, whose GDP per capita is less than 75% of the EU average GDP. In the countries of Eastern Europe financial equalization is mainly based both on the functioning of funds (as an instrument of inter-budgetary balancing) and based on the analysis of tax revenues and expenditures of the territory. The dependence between equalization of expenditures of territories and socioeconomic characteristics of their development. However, it is established that the quality of life is not significantly affected by financial subsidies. Improving the efficiency of the use of financial resources to increase the quality of life may be promising for further research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Gestion et Management Public is the property of Association Internationale de Recherche en Management Public (AIRMAP) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

To address the challenges posed by climate change to the transportation system, agencies are investigating climate change adaptation measures. This white paper presents a five-step framework for adapting transportation systems: inventorying and monitoring transportation assets; assessing climate threats; evaluating the vulnerability of assets; prioritizing assets; and identifying and executing adaptation actions. This framework provides a basis for further discussion and implementation. Collaboration among agencies at all levels is critical to successful adaptation efforts.View the NCST Project Webpage

The costs that climate and extreme weather disruptions are imposing on the transportation system are significant and rising. These disruptions – ranging from dust storms to landslides to floods – adversely impact the reliability of the transportation system. Increasingly, the burden of preparing for and recovering from extreme weather events is straining the resources of transportation agencies. There is a growing urgency to adapt the transportation infrastructure and institutional processes to be more resilient to these extremes. Adaptation actions can include:1. hardening, relocating or even abandoning infrastructure assets; and2. improving communications procedures and data collection, developing emergency response plans and changing maintenance schedules.Currently, climate adaptation efforts are hindered by shortfalls in financial resources and technical expertise, the need for improved data to inform design, and insufficient integration of state and local planning efforts.This policy brief summarizes findings from a study to assess the adequacy of current tools, efforts and vertical collaborations.View the NCST Project Webpage

The relevance of the researched problem is conditioned by the civilizational need of globalization entry of Ukraine in the European and world community with further reforming of its system of state administration in the financial sphere. The purpose of the article is based on the study of current world experience and the consequences of budget federalization as a phenomenon, analysis of the current reform situation in Ukraine and the development of useful recommendations for further approbation. The basic method is comparative, which allowed to compare different state and legal systems, in order to identify similarities or differences between them, resulting in a qualitative state of the legal system as a whole and individual legal institution. This allowed us to consider the problem in a holistic manner and from every side. The article analyzes the policy and experience of budget federalism of Ukraine and other countries, analyzes the development of budget legislation of Ukraine and develops recommendations for the Ukrainian legislator for further structural changes in the administration of the financial sector. It is claimed that Ukraine has done significant work in adapting its legislation to European and world practices through the introduction of budget (fiscal) federalism. Recommendations, analysis and review are aimed at adaptation of Ukrainian legislation to world economic systems during the process of globalization and embedding Ukraine in it.