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abstract: This dissertation develops a framework for the analysis of fiscal sustainability among U.S. local governments. Fiscal sustainability is defined as a type of fiscal condition that allows a government to continue service provision now and in the future without introducing disruptive revenue or expenditure patterns. An assessment of local fiscal sustainability is based on three types of indicators: pension liability funding, debt burden, and budgetary balance. Three main factors affect a government's long-term financial condition: government structure, financial structure and performance, and local economic base. This dissertation uses a combination of the U.S. Census Bureau Annual Survey of Government Finances and Employment, the U.S. Census Bureau Decennial Census, the Bureau of Labor Statistics data, and the Government Finance Officers Association financial indicators database to study the effects of the three factors on local fiscal sustainability. It is a pioneer effort to use government-wide accounting information from Comprehensive Annual Financial Reports to predict local fiscal sustainability status. The results of econometric models suggest that pension liability funding is most affected by the size of government, debt burden is most strongly associated with the size of local economic base; and budgetary balance is influenced by the degree of local own-source revenue diversification. / Dissertation/Thesis / Ph.D. Public Administration 2013

Since 1979 the UK has experienced the most decisive break in the providing style and underlying principles of welfare provision since 1944 to 1948, or perhaps ever. This thesis provides an historical overview of the succession of Acts in regards to state education, health and housing. It looks at the effects of, and reasons for, the reforms in these areas, showing how these have changed each sectors' operational style and ethos. A close insight into the reforms is provided by surveys of head teachers of Grant-Maintained schools, chief executives of NHS trusts, directors of local government housing departments and chief executives of housing associations and of Local Government. The questionnaires investigated issues such as, finances, changes in their functions, effects upon staff and external relations and highlights benefits and disadvantages. In general these sectors have experienced the introduction of a quasi-market, via the separation of the provider, purchaser and enabler roles. The aim has been to increase competition and consumer power in the state sector. In reality, competition is expanding, but these welfare markets have been subjected to increased scrutiny and control from Central Government. The market ethos is spreading across the nation, and although many people who are living through it are unaware of the rapid changes, this period may be looked back upon in history as being the most radical and far-reaching alteration of British economic, social and political structures.

In recent years, Total Quality Management has increasingly become a management approach embraced by public and private sector organisations worldwide. Although adopted initially by the private sector, Total Quality Management strategies have recently - and increasingly - been used by public sector organisations. However, public sector, particularly local government, experience with Total Quality Management has not been as systematically documented as private sector cases. Implementation issues in the public sector such as, problem identification, including the definition and distinction between the concept of customer and citizen; results; alternatives; and, performance measures differ significantly from private sector counterparts. Identification and documentation of these implementation issues are prerequisite requirements for the improved application of Total Quality Management in the public sector. The purpose of this research study, which was supported by the Canadian Association of Municipal Administrators, is to examine the Total Quality Management efforts being undertaken by local governments in Canada. The analysis includes a survey of Canadian municipalities to assess the general state of Total Quality Management efforts at the local government level. These survey data are compared with similar studies recently completed at the local government level in both the United Kingdom and the United States. In addition, the research study includes a more detailed review of specific cases to critically assess the use of TQM; and, to provide a "best practices" assessment of the application of Total Quality Management at the local government level in Canada. The intention is to identify the principles of Total Quality Management through the survey and case analysis, which can identify problems and concerns associated with TQM; and, provide a model for other public sector organisations - particularly local governments - attempting to implement Total Quality Management. The results of these inquiries confirm that local governments in Canada are generally cognisant of the principles of Total Quality Management and continue to explore TQM applications. For the most part, Total Quality Management has proven successful within local governments in Canada. In addition, the results suggest that local governments considering Total Quality Management should undertake an in-depth corporate strategic assessment or planning exercise prior to initiation of a formal quality program and recognise their own unique strengths and weaknesses. Most importantly, the Total Quality Management concepts best suited for any specific organisation, including local governments, must be clearly identified; understood; supported, particularly by managers; and, strategically used rather than the universal application of all Total Quality Management principles.

Masters in Public Administration - MPA / Local government is the sphere of government that is most directly involved in rendering services to communities and individuals. It is also at this sphere of government where the basic needs of people are ddressed. Services like water, sanitation, waste removal and electricity have a direct influence on the quality of life that people live. In order for the occupation of local public administration to contribute meaningfully towards rendering services of a high level, both in quantity and quality, it is important to lay down a number of preconditions. In this research report it was argued that for local public administration management to become a profession in the full sense, it will be necessary: to draw well-qualified graduates from tertiary institutions; to develop practitioners in the occupation on a continual basis; to develop minimum performance standards and requisite competencies; to develop standards of ethical conduct acceptable to the community at large, and the occupation as a whole; and to continuously develop knowledge in the science of public administration as it is found in the local sphere of government. / South Africa

Magister Philosophiae (Land and Agrarian Studies) - MPhil(LAS) / This study is about the place of traditional authorities in local level land administration and rural governance in contemporary Mozambique. It came about as a result of the publication of the Decree 15/2000 that recognised traditional authorities after their abolition more than 20 years earlier. This study seeks to examine four inter-related themes: the role of traditional authorities in local level land administration in Mozambique; why the government recognised traditional authorities in the year 2000 after having abolished them more than 20 years earlier; whether the recognition of hereditary traditional authorities is consistent with principles of democracy; and lastly to investigate whether the practices taking place on the ground are an expression of democracy as envisaged by the country’s constitution. The study is based on documental research on the subject, as well as on fieldwork in the community of Chirindzene, Gaza Province in Southern Mozambique. It argues that generalisations about the role of traditional authorities in local level land administration may be misleading. Drawing from the case study in Chirindzene, it shows that it was only the lowest level of the traditional authority structure (the lineage level) that continued having influence in land allocation and distribution after independence in this area. With regard to the recognition of traditional authorities, the study argues that an appreciation of the changing global context is important to understand this dramatic shift. The study argues that the Decree 15/2000 and its regulations are weakening the democratic experience initiated in 1970s by allowing rural populations be ruled by hereditary rulers who are not elected. For this reason, the rural population does not enjoy full citizenship rights because they are ruled by both elected structures and appointed ones. / South Africa

Magister Legum - LLM / Despite a highly centralised system of government, Tanzania, has attempted several measures aimed at achieving decentralisation of its immense powers to allow people to have a say on matters affecting their respective areas of jurisdiction. By discussing the autonomy of local government in Tanzania, this research will highlight whether or not local government in Tanzania has the autonomy to exercise its functions without undue interference from the central government. There is not much literature on the local government laws of Tanzania .Therefore, this research will contribute to the concept of decentralisation in Tanzania in particular and Africa in general. / South Africa

Magister Philosophiae - MPhil / There is a realisation that urbanisation has overstretched the ability and efforts of central governments to serve from the centre, thus, giving rise to the search for a robust decentralisation policy that vests urban local governments with some level of autonomy.1 It is in this context that decentralisation has become critical in order to sufficiently respond to the varied service delivery challenges brought about by increasing urbanisation. However, all efforts to capacitate urban councils through the process of decentralisation are futile if the urban local governments lack the necessary financial means to fulfil their responsibilities. / South Africa

Magister Legum - LLM / South Africa