Claudia N. Avellaneda – författare

While the field of public management has become increasingly international, research and policy recommendations that work for one country often do not work for another. Why, for example, is managerial networking important in the United States, moderately effective in the United Kingdom, and of little consequence in the Netherlands? Comparative Public Management argues that scholars must find a better way to account for political, environmental, and organizational contexts to build a more general model of public management. The volume editors propose a framework in which context influences the types of managerial actions that can be used effectively in public organizations.

After introducing the innovative framework, the book offers seven empirical chapters—cases from seven countries and a range of policy areas (health, education, taxation, and local governance)—that show how management affects performance in different contexts. Following these empirical tests, the book examines themes that emerge across cases and seeks to set an agenda for future research. Intended for students and scholars of public administration and public policy, this book will be the first to provide a comprehensive comparative assessment of management’s impact on organizational performance.

Chapters provide detailed case studies of more than twenty subnational governments, analysing how different degrees and forms of self-rule have impacted the well-being of local populations. Alongside studying specific regional responsibilities and governance arrangements, contributors also address four central aspects of subnational governments across the world - innovation, intergovernmental tensions, fiscal issues, and delivery arrangements. They examine important issues including incomplete decentralization, challenges to governmental autonomy, and lack of citizen support. Ultimately, the Handbook highlights the growing importance of subnational governments in designing, adopting and implementing policy, and providing key services to their communities.

Providing a nuanced understanding of diverse forms of subnational government, this Handbook will be an invaluable resource for students and scholars of governance, public management and administration, political science, and intergovernmental relations. It will also be essential reading for policy-makers and practitioners seeking to understand subnational governance as practised today.