Suchergebnisse

The enhancement of the quality of life is implicitly seen by (local) governments as a touchstone of the effects of their policies. Nevertheless, there is little clarity about the social-scientific methods to measure it. In this contribution we examine the merits and demerits of the different scientific methods to measure the quality of life. The central theme is the discrepancy between the use of objective (economical or social) indicators on the one hand and subjective indicators on the other. The empirical part of our contribution is an illustration of how subjective indicators are used to measure the effects of local policy. It contains, in particular, a survey analysis in three Flemish cities (Ghent, Bruges and Antwerp). The results show that the determinants of the perceived quality of life do not conform with those that define the satisfaction with the local policy. In conclusion, besides factors that are endogenous to the policy, so-called exogenous factors must be taken into account in order to study the effects of local policy.

According to the new public management, the interaction between (local) governments and their citizens should be "client oriented". It is considered crucial for (local) policy-makers that they know how citizens perceive the policy process, that they know if citizens are satisfied with policy outcomes.Our empirical study deals with the satisfaction with global local policy. We examine the main determinants of satisfaction with global local policy. This study is based on a face-to-face survey among citizens entitled to vote in Ghent. More than 1500 respondents, spread over 2 surveys, took part in our research. Attention is also paid to the satisfaction with more specific aspects of local policy. We linked the voter's satisfaction with the global local policy to a wide range of traditional and less traditional independent variables. Finally, we discuss the satisfaction of the electorate of the different political parties.

L'existence d'une organisation syndicale libérale est une originalité belge. La Centrale générale des syndicats libéraux de Belgique (CGSLB) a pourtant suscité peu d'intérêt scientifique. Le Courrier hebdomadaire entend combler cette lacune en livrant les résultats d'une enquête sur le profil de ses membres, réalisée par l'Université de Gand et le CRISP à la demande du syndicat libéral. La publication de ces résultats apporte de nouveaux éléments à la connaissance de la CGSLB et, plus largement, du monde syndical belge, acteur majeur dans l'élaboration de la décision en Belgique. Après avoir présenté les caractéristiques du syndicat libéral et la méthodologie de l'enquête, les auteurs dressent le portrait des affiliés de la CGSLB. Il s'avère que ceux-ci sont majoritairement des ouvriers, contrairement aux idées reçues, et qu'ils sont attachés à sa double dimension, syndicale et libérale, a priori contradictoire. L'enquête confirme cette proximité sociologique et politique avec le monde libéral, à travers l'examen du comportement électoral et de l'affiliation à une mutuelle et à un parti. Autrement dit, la pilarisation, qui fut à l'origine même de l'apparition d'un syndicat libéral en Belgique et qui explique probablement aussi sa survie, demeure palpable.

The way politicians get in contact with local polities in Flanders bas been examined based on the sociological distinction between ascribed and achieved status positions. Politically active relatives were considered characteristic of ascribed local mandates.Membership of different associations was seen as a way of personally achieving a local mandate. The results indicate that a combination of both was most frequently occuring. In spite of popular convictions, family was still quite important to get in contact with politics. This is shown in the high rates of respondents having politically active relatives.Next to this, a lot of political involvement occured via participation in a diversity of associations. Participations considered were membership, diligence and officeholding in a political party, a union, a health insurance organisation, an advisory body and all other political or non-political associations.