41,076 research outputs found
Just Digital or Multi-Channel? The Preferences of E-Government Service Adoption by Citizens and Business Users
The digital world has entered governments and public sector institutions. In that context, public e-services have been gaining increasing importance in recent years. However, will everything end up being digital in the future? This article investigates the preferences of citizens and business users to adopt different public services electronically and via further offline channels. Data of 500 citizens and 500 companies were collected together with the German Federal Employment Agency. Our findings indicate that citizens as well as business users ask for a multi-channel offering. They prefer to deliberately choose subjective suitable channels for different services. We furthermore observed a difference between companies from different industries as well as between small and medium-to-large companies, such as the latter ones having a stronger preference for online channels than small companies
Enhancing choice? The role of technology in the career support market
This report explores the role that technology has played in the development of the career support market. This market is conceived broadly to include all possible resources that individuals might draw upon to support them in their career development. A key element is the role that is played by public-sector career services and by careers professionals; though these resources are supplemented by services paid for in a wide range of ways and delivered by a range of professionals and non-professionals.UKCE
The construction of knowledge-based economies versus knowledge societies: The cases of Germany and Singapore
In the past decades, terms such as knowledge-based economy (KBE)\u27, and \u27information/knowledge society\u27 have been adopted by governments worldwide in order to underline their interest in developing their economies and societies further and assure future growth. Many governments used these catchwords as labels for government programs and action plans aiming at economic and social prosperity. This aim of national governments to construct knowledge-based economies, information/knowledge societies, the actions taken and especially the ability or disability to do so, is the topic of this paper. As two cases of comparison act Singapore and Germany. (DIPF/Orig.
After Broadband: A Study of Organizational Use of Broadband in Southwest Alaska
The purpose of this research was to gain a preliminary understanding of how organizations
including large and small businesses, Native corporations and organizations, and local and
regional governments are using broadband that is now available in much of southwest Alaska.
To learn about community access to broadband, interviews were also conducted with library and
school staff in communities where broadband had been installed under the OWL (Online with
Libraries) program. Further, the study identifies research from other sources that could help to
predict what socio-economic impacts the availability and adoption of broadband may have in
rural Alaska.
Financial institutions use online connections for teller services and credit and debit card
processing, and stated that more people in rural communities now have debit cards that they can
use for online purchases and bill paying. Large retailers use online services for payroll, for pointof-sale
(POS) transactions, and online ordering. Seafood processors rely heavily on connectivity
with their head offices (generally in the lower 48) for administrative services including payroll,
accounting, shipping and receiving, purchasing, and ERP (enterprise resource planning), and
access data base software to track fish tickets. Seafood processors also provide Internet access
for their employees, most of whom are seasonal and from other states or countries.
Tourism businesses use broadband for online reservation systems and for guests, who
increasingly demand connectivity even for remote vacations. Village corporations and tribal
councils use online services to help their residents obtain hunting and fishing licenses and fishing
permits, to learn about funding opportunities, and to file reports on grants.
Local Governments connect online for interoffice communications and for payroll and other
administrative functions. Other online applications and services include providing remote
desktop access from other agency sites, use of online tools for land management and mapping,
training including webinars for workforce development, and providing access to social services
for clients. An economic development organization sends newsletters to communities
electronically and packets of documents to its board members rather than relying on fax or
courier.
Websites are important for tourism-related businesses to advertise and promote their
businesses and for nonprofits and local governments to provide information about their services.
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Broadband now plays many roles in rural education. Most students are required to use the
Internet for class assignments. High school students can connect to classes in advanced subjects
in other communities, and may complete online courses for college credit. Libraries remain
important locations for community access, with residents going online to connect with friends on
Facebook, as well as to download content for e-books, file income tax, and apply for jobs and
government benefits. School and library Wi-Fi provides access inside and near the buildings for
residents with smartphones.
Despite enthusiasm for broadband and the adoption of many broadband-based applications
and services, most organizations interviewed identified problems with broadband, particularly
with the pricing, stating that the terrestrial broadband network is too costly for them to take full
advantage of online services and applications.
While the scope of this study was too limited to estimate long-term benefits, it found that
broadband is highly valued and increasingly important to businesses and nonprofit organizations
and local governments in southwest Alaska. Broadband helps businesses to be more efficient in
their operations and to extend their reach to new customers and suppliers. It also helps to
improve the effectiveness of public sector services such as those provided by borough and city
governments and extends access to education and training. Broadband is also likely to be an
important component of strategies to develop ecotourism and other ecosystem services.Support for this research came from Connect Alaska with funding from the National
Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) for the work of the State of Alaska
Broadband Task Force, with additional support from GCI.Executive Summary / Introduction / Research Methodology / Technologies and Technical Support / Broadband Applications / Education and Community Access / Health Care / Benefits of Broadband in Southwest Alaska / Problems and Limitations / Potential Long-Term Social and Economic Impacts / Conclusions and Recommendations / Referemce
Subnational government bailouts in Germany
The paper presents an investigation of subnational government bailouts in Germany. In a first part we briefly describe the fiscal federalism system in Germany. The main part of the paper examines the bailout of two West German states. We identify the causes of the financial trouble of both states and examine the institutional settings that forced the federal government to provide bailout transfers. In addition, we investigate the impact these transfers had on the fiscal performance of both LĂ€nder. In a further section we provide evidence on bailouts of local governments by the German LĂ€nder. A final section summarizes our results and presents policy conclusions. --
The Role of Labour Market Information for Adjustment: International Comparisons
Labour Market Information (LMI) is a policy instrument that governments use to coordinate labour market adjustments. Many approaches are utilized in the provision of this information in OECD countries. This report examines approaches in five OECD countries (Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, the United States and Australia) in order to assess their efficiency in facilitating adjustments in labour markets. This report finds that although Canada has well developed labour market information mechanisms, further efforts should be made by the Canadian government to improve our labour market information delivery system. In particular, attempts should be made to simplify information content, improve usersâ awareness, and tailor information to the needs of users, in order to ensure that our extensive information system facilitates labour market adjustments.Labour Market Information (LMI), Labour market adjustments, Delivery information, Users' awareness, International comparisons, Job search.
Subnational Bailouts in Germany
This paper presents an investigation of subnational government bailouts in Germany. In the first part we briefly describe the system of fiscal federalism in Germany. The main part of the paper examines the bailout of two West German states. We identify the causes of the financial crisis in both states and examine the institutional settings as well as the ruling of the Constitutional Court that forced the federal government to provide bailout transfers. In addition, we investigate the impact these transfers had on the fiscal performance of both states. In a further section we provide evidence on bailouts of local governments by German states. A final section summarizes our results and presents policy conclusions.
International Research Project on Job Retention and Return to Work Strategies for Disabled Workers: Key Issues
[From Preface] The International Research Project on Job Retention and Return to Work Strategies for Disabled Workers breaks new ground by examining the inter-relationships of public and enterprise policies and practices as they affect the retention and return to work of disabled workers. The enquiry encompasses public policies to promote employment of disabled people; benefit and compensation programmes; employment support and rehabilitation services; provision to adapt work and workplace; and measures developed and implemented by the enterprise. The Project aims not only to identify successful policies and practices which are transferable from one country to another but also to inform the development of effective, efficient and equitable job retention and return to work strategies for disabled workers. The ultimate objective is to develop strategies which can be put into effect in the workplace
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