The primary aim of this study was to examine the role of inter-governmental relations in the local economic development processes of the Cacadu district municipality. The sample for the study was selected from Cacadu District Municipality, with five respondents participating in the survey. A qualitative methodology was used in the data collection and item analysis. This showed that the research instrument had good reliability. The literature review reveals that municipal local economic development in South Africa does not rely exclusively on competition. The Cacadu district municipality developed an inter-governmental relations policy that outlines the inter-governmental system and structures that need to be established in the district. In terms of this policy, a number of inter-governmental structures were established, ranging from the Cacadu District Mayor’s forum through Communications and AIDS structures to the Integrated Development Planning and LED Forums. Apart from the Local Economic Development (LED) forum, the findings of this study reveal that there are two further LED-related structures in the Cacadu District Municipality (CDM), namely: an operational District Support Team and a Rural Economic Development Initiative. The co-ordination takes place at the IDP forum, during the IDP processes, and at the Mayor’s and Municipal Managers’ forum. During the time of the research, the CDM was reviewing its economic growth and development strategy. The findings of the study suggest that the district is moving away from planning for isolated local economic development projects. The case study of Camdeboo Satellite Aquaculture Project (CSAP) illustrates the impact of inter-governmental relations and co-ordination in the Cacadu District Municipality. The design of the Project took place between November 2007 and June 2008.A detailed Business Plan for both farming and factory operations over a ten-year period has been compiled and subjected to a thorough evaluation by the CSAP Project Steering Committee, which includes the Industrial Development Corporation, the Development Bank of South Africa, the Eastern Cape Development Corporation and Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries – with financial support from Thina Sinako (a joint venture between the European Union and the Eastern Cape provincial Treasury).

The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) Program, funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act in 2009, holds important lessons for United States climate policy. A one-time infusion of funding given primarily to local governments to for the purpose of reducing energy use and greenhouse gas emissions, the policy had important but uneven effects. Most recipients were able to show progress on energy efficiency goals to meet program requirements. But communities with pre-existing interest in and experience with climate and energy programs tended to multiply the effects of the funding, using it to launch long-term efforts or prove concepts in order to secure further funding and support. The dissertation shows the value of communities’ participation in voluntary policy initiatives related to climate and energy, as municipalities with even a small amount of related experience were better positioned to turn a one-time infusion of federal funding into long-lasting programs. At the same time, the program’s outcomes demonstrate the enduring power and influence of the federal government in achieving more widespread success, as municipalities that had not previously participated in climate and energy planning were generally unable to continue their work once federal funding was removed, even in the presence of local champions and demonstrated successes. The program also demonstrates that using federal grants-in-aid to accomplish policy goals has important limitations. Though EECBG grants often had a major impact on local policies, their uneven impact exposes the risk that grants-in-aid may further stratify local governments’ capacities in the policy areas to which they are applied. Rather than evening out the playing field, it is possible for such programs to increase the disparities between policy leaders and the rest. The dissertation points to the importance of tailoring federal programs to varying local needs and to the importance of building local differences into program evaluations.

在毛澤東的極權主義政權之下，中共的中央與地方關係經過不斷地改變過程。不過，雖然經過「大躍進」和「文化大革命」時期的權力下放和中間的收權，中共的中央與地放一直屬於上傳下達的隸屬關係。到鄧小平時代，中共推動經濟改革政策，為了成功地實行經濟改革，在多方面採取權力下放的措施。其中最重要的措施是「放權讓利」的財政體制改革和計劃體制改革。其結果，在很多方面獲得成功，且給地方很大的自主性。不過也有負面的現象，而且這些現象成為阻礙經濟改革的主要素。其中明現的現象是「地方保護主義」、「諸侯經濟」等的現象。地方保護主義是指從狹隘的局部利益出發，採取不合理的干預手段和措施，人為地製造障礙、限制、封鎖區際間相互貿易，割裂區際間資源技術、市場等的經濟聯繫。地方保護主義對中央與地方關係的影響深大。地方的自主性擴大導致地方主義之抬頭，影響到中央宏觀調控能力之弱化。因此中共中央採取整頓措施，不過這些整頓措施反而阻礙經濟改革的速度，而且遭到地方的抵制與反抗。中共十四大以後提出「社會主義市場經濟」的概念，加強經濟改革的速度，中央與地方關係也隨著待重構。

Neighbourhood councils are sub-municipal committees which operate within a geographically delimited area of a municipality or a municipal department. Their activities cover a single established policy area such as social services (single functioned committee) or several areas such as education, leisure, and social issues (multi-functioned committee). The thesis includes a comparative analysis of the origin, occurance, and performance of multi-functioned neighbourhood councils in Finland, Norway, and Sweden during the period 1968-1986. In the case of Denmark, the debate is analyzed and the question posed as to why neighbourhood councils were not introduced during this period.It is the interplay between a number of factors which determines how and why neighbourhood councils occur and in some cases endure and are developed further. The countries' traditions and characteristics - such as the size of the public sector and local government's share of it, size of municipalities, and political culture - are important in this context. Increased democracy and greater effectivity were the main aims of the reform and these have been achieved to some extent. The occurance of neighbourhood councils also means that participation, recruitment, articulation of demands, and communication between elector and elected are changed and somewhat improved. Where neighbourhood councils exist, greater consideration is given to geographical (rather than departmental) principles in the distribution and redistribution of services and welfare. Neighbourhood councils are clearly a source of further variation between and within the Nordic countries. It is, however, too early to judge whether the variation within countries will develop into inappropriate deviations from the principal of equal services for all or if they, on the contrary, are indications of greater future responsiveness. / digitalisering@umu

University of Macau / Faculty of Law

University of Macau / Faculty of Law

published_or_final_version / abstract / toc / Politics and Public Administration / Master / Master of Philosophy

The ending of apartheid and the transformation process in South Africa, the transition to democracy brought with them fundamental changes to the form and function of the State. In particular, they bring a restructuring of co-operative governance and intergovernmental relations. The responsibilities, functions and powers of the three spheres of government (national, provincial and local) were changed and streamlined as stated in the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa Act, 108 of 1996. The system of intergovernmental relations delineated in the Constitution differs significantly from that of the previous dispensation, particularly in its ambitions to advance democracy and to improve service delivery to all South Africans. Of particular significance is the respect in the fact that instead of the inherently conflicting intergovernmental relations that characterises most modern states, the Constitution actively promotes co-operation between different levels of government. The Intergovernmental Relations Framework Act, 13 of 2005 was promulgated on 15 August 2005. The Act provides for an institutional framework for the three spheres of government to facilitate coherent government, effective provision of services, monitoring the implementation of policy and legislation, and realisation of developmental goals of government as a whole. All spheres of government must provide effective, efficient, transparent, accountable and coherent government in order to ensure the progressive realisation of constitutional rights. One of the most pervasive challenges facing the country as a developmental state is the need for government to redress poverty, underdevelopment, marginalisation of people and communities and other legacies of apartheid and discrimination. This challenge can only be addressed through a concerted effort by government in all spheres to work together and integrate as far as possible their actions in the provision of service, alleviation of poverty and development of the communities. Co-operation and integration of actions in government depends on a stable and effective system of intergovernmental relations, one in which each of the spheres respect the relative autonomy of the other whilst appreciating the interrelatedness and interdependence of the three spheres. The study elaborated on the research as well as the research problem. In so doing, it further looked at the historical overview of the transition to a democratic South Africa which brought a significant change in the reconfiguration of the state. The studies further deals with a critique of co-operative governance and intergovernmental relations in the Eastern Cape and discuss the perspective on service delivery. In order to critically evaluate the notion of co-operative governance and intergovernmental relations in South Africa with specific reference to Eastern Cape, the study recommended that intergovernmental planning and budgeting, management of change, support and capacity building, communication and stakeholder engagement and institutional arrangement interventions be embarked upon. / Thesis (MBA)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2012.

Diplomarbeit - Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität, Münster. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 86-87).

The concept of cross-border tourism planning and cooperation is investigated in reference to the Lake !Gariep Initiative. The field of cross-border economic planning and integration is an area of increasing interest in regional development studies. The Lake Gariep Initiative is an initiative to promote cross-border planning and development around nature conservation, water resource management, economic development, poverty alleviation and tourism in the three municipalities that surround the Gariep Dam. The Gariep Dam, which is largest dam in South Africa, is surrounded by three provinces. The region is also economically and politically marginalised as it has a small, dispersed population and a marginal contribution to the broader regional economy. Under these circumstances the coordination of resources between municipalities to develop and promote the region has been identified as a key success factor for the region. The Lake Gariep Initiative although strongly supported locally has over ten years failed to be institutionalised. This study examines the Lake Gariep Initiative in terms of the origins of the concept and the key challenges that have been faced in establishing a cross-border, development entity. Findings are based on an assessment of documents on the formation of the LGI, interviews with stakeholders involved in the process and an assessment of critical success factors in reference to national and international case studies. This study provides a review of the key challenges, benefits and critical success factors for cross-border tourism development in relation to the Lake !Gariep Initiative.