Potential for comparative public opinion research in public administration

The public administration and public services have always taken a marginal place in the political scientists’ behavioural research. Public administration students on the other hand tend to focus on political and administrative elites and institutions, and largely ignored citizens in comparative research. In this article we make a plea for international comparative research on citizens’ attitudes towards the public administration from an interdisciplinary perspective. Available international survey material is discussed, and main trends in empirical practice and theoretical approaches are outlined, especially those with a potential impact on public sector reform

Retailing in Singapore: Coping with Change

The nature of retailing in Singapore has changed significantly over the past three decades, reflecting the growing affluence of the population and the influx of tourists, particularly those from Japan. A major influence in these changes has been the Government which has arranged for the development of planned shopping centres in both the central area and the suburban new towns. However, in the 1990s a further wave of change is coming: the nature of retailing is changing as a result of an economic downturn and the growing number of foreign retailers operating on the island. In addition, the Government has decided to shake up the small shop sector and to allow major retail developments in the suburban areas. The net result is likely to be a further period of upheaval and it is by no means certain that Singaporean retailers are going to be winners this time