Multi-level Governance Processes - Citizens & Local Budgeting: Comparing Brazil, China, & the United States

Modifications to policy-making processes and actors are crucial when transitioning to multi-level governance. Civic engagement in budgeting processes, where crucial policy decisions are determined, is an important component of shared governance. Understanding the new roles for citizens in the budget process, then, can extend our knowledge of multi-level governance. This research explores the ways in which the budget process incorporates citizen participation to foster an ideal of civil society in the United States, Brazil, and China. The comparative case analysis probes the extent to which institutional changes have occurred, why they have occurred, and the degree to which municipal budget processes are characterized by multi-level governance

Beyond the Property Tax: Local Government Revenue Diversification

Local governments in the U.S. rely less on the property tax than they have historically. This long-term trend has been accompanied by important shifts in the composition of local revenues. While the property tax still serves as one primary source of local government revenue, increasingly other sources are used to pay for local government. This paper first examines that trend, the forces behind it, and its regional impact. We then explore trends in three central states- Iowa, Nebraska, and Arkansas -- that have experienced substantial revenue shifts in recent years. A concluding section discusses the options for the future

Devolution, Fiscal Federalism, and Changing Patterns of Municipal Revenues: The Mismatch between Theory and Reality

Theories of fiscal federalism, such as those propounded by Musgrave, Tiebout, and Brennan and Buchanan, prescribe assignment of revenue sources among federal, state, and local governments. In this article, we demonstrate that the recent diversification of municipal revenue sources in response to devolutionary forces does not follow the expectations of the fiscal federalism theories. Our analysis suggests that the use of an institutional approach to the study of fiscal federalism would help to reduce the mismatch between theory and reality

Are we All Touching the Same Camel?: Exploring a Model of Participation in Budgeting

Theory offers a vast quantity of normative prescriptions concerning citizen participation in budget decisions. Yet cities struggle with this activity and report unsatisfactory outcomes. Why does this occur? It may be because, similar to the parable of the blind men describing the different parts of the camel, the extant literature suggests so many variables but does not integrate what we know to see the whole picture, nor does it eliminate variables having little explanatory value and there has been limited systematic testing of hypotheses in this area. To manage the complexity caused by a multiplicity of variables, the authors test a causal model with four different factors (structure, participants, process, and mechanisms) thought to influence effective citizen participation outcomes on cases of two midwestern cities. In this limited application, the model shows promise for predictive validity.Yeshttps://us.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/manuscript-submission-guideline

Models of Transportation Development in America: Lessons for Developing America’s Space Transportation System

In 1994 Congress passed the National Space Transportation Policy (NTSP) that called on the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to pursue the development of government and private sector partnerships, and to create private commercial spaceport and launch facilities capable of supporting affordable and sustainable space exploration. Since the passage of the NTSP, NASA has sought to develop collaborative public/private partnerships and foster new intergovernmental relationships for the development of technologically advanced space vehicles and the creation of a commercially based space transportation system. The loss of the Columbia and the lack of viable replacement in the near-term for the shuttle have emphasized the lack of a realistic long-term policy vision for America to create a viable and cost effective space transportation system. Given the current competition for space program funding with national security concerns, it is important that future space program policy possess a clear understanding of how sustainable transportation systems have traditionally evolved in America. This paper examines public/private relationships and how past intergovernmental interdependencies have impacted the development of canal, railroad and aviation transportation systems within the United States. The goal of this paper is to identify transportation models that NASA may use in the development of a national space transportation system. Growth of transportation systems can be best viewed as an incremental process fueled by economic demand and support of national security and shaped by both the geography of the United States and the advancement of transportation technology. The role of government and its relationship with private enterprise in development of American transportation systems has been varied and often complex. Study of canal, railroad and aviation systems reveals that development of individual transportation systems was most often undertaken by private enterprise and local and state governments. Sustainability of these systems has become increasingly dependent on federal government sponsorship, funding and regulation. Financing methods for transportation systems has also been extremely varied. These strategies included public improvement bonds, loans, and issuance of stocks, barter arrangements, earmarked state revenues, debt, and tolls. States and federal government have also levied taxes on tickets, cargo, fuel, and on transportation companies. In times of emergency, transportation systems have also benefited from extensive federal financial assistance and protective legislative to safeguard national commerce and security. Private ownership and operation of transportation modes, canals, railroads and airline companies, and/or operation of key transportation nodes, such as airports, by local governments are clearly preferred by both citizens and legislators. Each major system has relied on extensive involvement of both the public and private sectors. These respective roles have differed by system and have changed to some extent over time. Transportation systems typically developed in a fragmented, incremental manner. Thus, we have historically not had consistent national policies related to transportation. The federal government, however, almost exclusively developed space transportation. Because of this, widespread involvement by commercial actors

Multilevel Governance Processes – Citizens & Local Budgeting: Comparing Brazil, China, & The United States

Modifications to policy-making processes and actors are crucial when transitioning to multi-level governance. Civic engagement in budgeting processes, where crucial policy decisions are determined, is an important component of shared governance. Understanding the new roles for citizens in the budget process, then, can extend our knowledge of multi-level governance. This research explores the ways in which the budget process incorporates citizen participation to foster an ideal of civil society in the United States, Brazil, and China. The comparative case analysis probes the extent to which institutional changes have occurred, why they have occurred, and the degree to which municipal budget processes are characterized by multi-level governance

Uncertainty and unrest: A collaborative pedagogical response to pandemics, protests, and policy

This article presents the pedagogical, observational, and empirical findings from a social equity centered team-taught course that served as an effective learning approach for both students and faculty during a time of great uncertainty and unrest in 2020. The article begins by describing the context for why this course was offered, outlining the need to use a collaborative teaching approach that centers social equity and interdisciplinary expertise when issues such as a global pandemic and racial injustice arise. The authors then describe the methodology and findings associated with surveying students and faculty members who were engaged with the course and share four themes that emerged from the research. The authors conclude by sharing lessons learned, recommendations, and a call to action to scholars and practitioners to use a collaborative pedagogical approach that centers social equity and interdisciplinary expertise when addressing complex and timely issues in public administration