Suchergebnisse

A report of a policy evaluation of the personnel situation in Belgium's amalgamated municipalities, investigating the degree to which amalgamation has achieved its objectives & which instruments have contributed to that achievement. It appears that the number of personnel in local administration grew more than in regional ones, particularly in public welfare agencies. This growth is probably due more to social evolution than to the amalgamation operation. The fact that large municipalities have relatively more personnel than small ones is not due to increase of the population. The diachronic study of the % of total expenditures for personnel shows that they have decreased, which could indicate a scale effect. However, there is insufficient information to ascribe this change to amalgamation. It is concluded that amalgamation as a policy measure has not brought many changes in policy implementation, which is explained by the lack of a strategy for change. It does not suffice merely to pass a law to bring about fundamental change. 11 Tables, 1 Figure, 1 Appendix. Modified HA.

Poverty in Antwerp, Belgium, is discussed from a historical perspective, noting that the worst misery began to disappear in the latter 19th century, & indigence virtually disappeared after the establishment of social care agencies after WWI. After WWII, the ongoing need for relief agencies was quickly recognized; the Openbaar Centrum voor Maatschappelijk Welzijn ([OCMW] Public Center for Social Welfare), established in 1976, is currently one of the main social relief agencies in Flanders. Here, quantitative data concerning its clients are provided, noting that, since 1994/95, relative & absolute records for the number of people in need of financial & medical aid have been broken. This crisis is related to the increasing number of single-parent families, political refugees, drug addicts, & elderly in the inner city. The need for preventive policies is addressed, asserting that only integrated development projects can improve matters for all risk groups. 6 Tables. Adapted from the source document.

5.3 Corporate-style management5.4 Success on targeted preventative output; 5.5 Improved outcome; 6. Continental case: Amsterdam; 6.1 Specialised policy; 6.2 Intense and exclusive structures; 6.3 Games of management; 6.4 High risk targeted output; 6.5 Varying outcomes; 7. Comparative analysis of empirical findings; 7.1 Variation in governance arrangements; 7.2 Variation in the quality of outputs and outcomes; 7.3 Testing three hypotheses; 8. Conclusion and discussion; 8.1 Answer to the central question; 8.2 Theoretical implications; 8.3 Practical implications.

The amalgamation of Belgian municipalities was intended to enhance the resolution of civic problems. Although it would require more dedication, deeper understanding, a readiness to listen, & preliminary research on the part of the managers, the merged communities could have better facilities because they were centralized. However, the resulting hierarchy & bureaucracy have made flexible management more difficult, & some citizens focus on the negative rather than positive aspects of the consolidation. The global impression is that the consolidation has been better for the small municipalities than the large ones, especially those of 50,000+ inhabitants, who feel that the understanding & resolution of their problems has become more complicated. This situation is viewed with particular regard for the services offered by Belgium's public centers for social welfare (OCMW). Modified HA.

Results from research on the effects of public policy in the Netherlands are examined & compared with some US findings. Issues examined include educational & housing policy's effects on income distribution, & the effects of suburbanization & participation policies. While in both countries there are limitations to the success of welfare state policy, it appears that some goals are at least partly attained. When pubic policy appears ineffective, it can be explained by several factors: content of policy & the underlying theory, policy process, society, research, & a shortsightedness about the effects of policy. Modified HA.

The question is examined of what personal income distribution will be brought about by the institutions of a political democracy, assuming these institutions have the power to determine this. It has been assumed that an egalitarian income distribution would result. The ideas of Hans van den Doel (Democracy and Welfare Economics, Cambridge, 1979) offer an alternative model. The majority of individuals would not seek radical leveling down of incomes for several reasons: concern for economic growth & employment, & the hope of the poor to become rich. Also, if a majority sought radical leveling down, & the measures were not rigorously enforced, a Prisoner's Dilemma would result for each individual; but if they were rigorously enforced, a situation of collective intransitivity would emerge, making the decision subject to cycling. Resolution of this problem would likely leave median income voters in a strong position that they could use to benefit themselves at the expense of the poor. These findings are consistent with the finding of R. W. Jackman (Politics and Social Equality: A Comparative Analysis, New York, 1975) that political equality does not play an important role in increasing equality of material rewards. 4 Tables, 5 Figures. Modified HA.

Changes in the post-WWII organization & structure of the Belgian political party system are discussed, focusing on the emergence of the welfare state. The prevalent trend of subcontracting social services to private firms, under the general direction of the sponsoring parties, is noted. The linguistic fractionalization of the major parties, the dynamics among the Catholic majority concentrated in Flanders, the socialist opposition centered chiefly in Wallonia, & the "balance" liberal parties are examined. Shifts in party identification & function, eg, toward clientelism & a dominant role in public policy formulation, are detailed, along with the role of TV in disseminating party propaganda. The declining role of party volunteers & grassroots activism is also discussed. Modified HA.

The abolition of the political institutions of the Belgian provinces, as provided in the government declaration of 7 June 1977, puts into question the usefulness of these institutions. Light is thrown on policies at the provincial level, now & in the near past, by means of a brief functional & financial analysis. Juridical & institutional limitations have a restraining influence on the functioning of the provinces. A task analysis shows that provinces are primarily concerned with traditional tasks (eg, education traffic), & that they have also concerned themselves with modern social welfare tasks (eg, culture & community organization). Belgian provinces have very limited means. As a result, their current expenditures do not exceed 3% of all current public expenditures. This shows the relatively small importance of the provinces in the total government structure. 10 Tables. Modified HA.