The European Union (EU) provides grants to disadvantaged regions of member states from two pools, the Structural Funds and the Cohesion Fund. The main goal of the associated transfers is to ...facilitate convergence of poor regions (in terms of per-capita income) to the EU average. We use data at the NUTS3 level from the last two EU budgetary periods (1994–1999 and 2000–2006) and generalized propensity score estimation to analyze to which extent the goal of fostering growth in the target regions was achieved with the funds provided and whether or not more transfers generated stronger growth effects. We find that, overall, EU transfers enable faster growth in the recipient regions as intended, but we estimate that in 36% of the recipient regions the transfer intensity exceeds the aggregate efficiency maximizing level and in 18% of the regions a reduction of transfers would not even reduce their growth. We conclude that some reallocation of the funds across target regions would lead to higher aggregate growth in the EU and could generate even faster convergence than the current scheme does.
► We evaluate the Structural Funds and Cohesion Fund programmes at the NUTS3 level in 1994–2006. ► We estimate the effect of funds/GDP on GDP/capita growth by generalized propensity scores. ► In 36% of the recipients the transfer intensity exceeded the efficiency-maximizing level. ► In 18% of the regions a reduction of transfers would not even have reduced their growth. ► Some reallocation of the funds would have benefited aggregate growth convergence in the EU.
This article considers different governance structures, policies, and strategies that focus on the sustainable development of mountain areas in the European Alpine region and investigates how ...different countries integrate sustainable development into their mountain policies. Even though mountain areas cover around one third of European land, only a few countries have established place-based policies for their sustainable development. We analyzed 4 cases (Austria, France, Italy, and Switzerland) to reveal extremely diverse systems in terms of policies and actions. Furthermore, we scrutinized the sustainable development governance frameworks in policies directed at mountain areas, comparing national legislation. We also performed 4 semistructured interviews with national experts in mountain governance. Our results show that interacting with different stakeholders is a precondition for place-based sustainable development processes. We conclude by providing evidence-based policy recommendations for the sustainable development of mountain areas.
Sinds de jaren 1980 zijn bedrijven en openbare besturen geneigd zich op hun kernactiviteiten te focussen en taken als IT, beveiliging, catering en schoonmaak uit te besteden. De jongste jaren zien we ...echter een omkering van deze tendens in vele organisaties, die sommige van deze activiteiten opnieuw intern gaan uitvoeren. Een proces dat we “backsourcing” noemen. Het doel van dit artikel is om te onderzoeken in welke mate activiteiten werden uitbesteed in de Brusselse gewestelijke besturen, wat de impact daarvan is op de betrokken medewerkers en organisaties en hoe de belanghebbenden staan tegenover een eventuele backsourcing van laaggekwalificeerde banen. In het kader van een multidisciplinair project van BSI voor Talent.Brussels hebben onze bevindingen aangetoond dat beslissingen over in- en outsourcing complex en multidimensionaal zijn en dat ze niet enkel gebaseerd mogen zijn op kostenoverwegingen.
Since the 1980s, there has been a trend for businesses and public administrations to focus on their core activities, outsourcing tasks such as IT, security, catering and cleaning services. However, in recent years, many organisations have been reversing the trend by insourcing, or “backsourcing”, some of these activities. The aim of this article is to study the extent to which activities have been outsourced in the Brussels regional administrations, its impact on workers and organisations involved, and the attitudes of stakeholders towards a possible re-internalisation of low-skilled jobs. Based on a multidisciplinary BSI project for Talent.Brussels, our findings show that decisions about outsourcing and insourcing are complex and multidimensional, and that they should not be based solely on monetary cost considerations.Since the 1980s, there has been a trend for businesses and public administrations to focus on their core activities, outsourcing tasks such as IT, security, catering and cleaning services. However, in recent years, many organisations have been reversing the trend by insourcing, or “backsourcing”, some of these activities. The aim of this article is to study the extent to which activities have been outsourced in the Brussels regional administrations, its impact on workers and organisations involved, and the attitudes of stakeholders towards a possible re-internalisation of low-skilled jobs. Based on a multidisciplinary BSI project for Talent.Brussels, our findings show that decisions about outsourcing and insourcing are complex and multidimensional, and that they should not be based solely on monetary cost considerations.
À partir des années 1980, les entreprises et les administrations publiques ont eu tendance à externaliser des tâches, notamment les services informatiques, de sécurité, de restauration et de nettoyage, afin de se concentrer sur leurs activités principales. Cependant, ces dernières années, de nombreuses organisations ont inversé cette tendance en internalisant ou réinternalisant (« backsourcing ») certaines des tâches en question. Le présent article vise à examiner le degré d’externalisation des activités dans les administrations régionales bruxelloises, l’incidence du phénomène sur les travailleurs et les organismes concernés, ainsi que le regard porté par les parties prenantes sur l’éventualité d’une réinternalisation d’emplois peu qualifiés. Nos constatations, qui s’appuient sur un projet pluridisciplinaire mené par le BSI pour talent.brussels, font apparaître que les décisions en matière d’externalisation et d’internalisation sont complexes et multidimensionnelles, et ne devraient pas se fonder uniquement sur des considérations pécuniaires.
À partir des années 1980, les entreprises et les administrations publiques ont eu tendance à externaliser des tâches, notamment les services informatiques, de sécurité, de restauration et de ...nettoyage, afin de se concentrer sur leurs activités principales. Cependant, ces dernières années, de nombreuses organisations ont inversé cette tendance en internalisant ou réinternalisant (« backsourcing ») certaines des tâches en question. Le présent article vise à examiner le degré d’externalisation des activités dans les administrations régionales bruxelloises, l’incidence du phénomène sur les travailleurs et les organismes concernés, ainsi que le regard porté par les parties prenantes sur l’éventualité d’une réinternalisation d’emplois peu qualifiés. Nos constatations, qui s’appuient sur un projet pluridisciplinaire mené par le BSI pour talent.brussels, font apparaître que les décisions en matière d’externalisation et d’internalisation sont complexes et multidimensionnelles, et ne devraient pas se fonder uniquement sur des considérations pécuniaires.
Sinds de jaren 1980 zijn bedrijven en openbare besturen geneigd zich op hun kernactiviteiten te focussen en taken als IT, beveiliging, catering en schoonmaak uit te besteden. De jongste jaren zien we echter een omkering van deze tendens in vele organisaties, die sommige van deze activiteiten opnieuw intern gaan uitvoeren. Een proces dat we “backsourcing” noemen. Het doel van dit artikel is om te onderzoeken in welke mate activiteiten werden uitbesteed in de Brusselse gewestelijke besturen, wat de impact daarvan is op de betrokken medewerkers en organisaties en hoe de belanghebbenden staan tegenover een eventuele backsourcing van laaggekwalificeerde banen. In het kader van een multidisciplinair project van BSI voor Talent.Brussels hebben onze bevindingen aangetoond dat beslissingen over in- en outsourcing complex en multidimensionaal zijn en dat ze niet enkel gebaseerd mogen zijn op kostenoverwegingen.
Since the 1980s, there has been a trend for businesses and public administrations to focus on their core activities, outsourcing tasks such as IT, security, catering and cleaning services. However, in recent years, many organisations have been reversing the trend by insourcing, or “backsourcing”, some of these activities. The aim of this article is to study the extent to which activities have been outsourced in the Brussels regional administrations, its impact on workers and organisations involved, and the attitudes of stakeholders towards a possible re-internalisation of low-skilled jobs. Based on a multidisciplinary BSI project for Talent.Brussels, our findings show that decisions about outsourcing and insourcing are complex and multidimensional, and that they should not be based solely on monetary cost considerations.
En Belgique, la domiciliation donne accès aux droits fondamentaux par l’inscription des personnes au Registre National. Le Registre National centralise toutes les données qui sont recueillies par les ...communes. L’invisibilisation administrative a donc des conséquences directes sur la jouissance des droits sociaux. Elle a trois origines distinctes : l’absence d’inscription, la radiation, la suppression de personnes du Registre National. Au départ de l’analyse des données du Registre National, cet article s’intéresse aux phénomènes d’« invisibilisation administrative », c’est-à-dire à la disparition ou la radiation, volontaire ou involontaire, des registres administratifs. Une analyse anthropologique des pratiques administratives concernant la domiciliation des personnes introduit l’article qui est poursuivi par une quantification et une spatialisation du phénomène d'invisibilisation administrative et enfin une enquête sociologique auprès des personnes victimes d’invisibilisation administrative éclaire leurs parcours d’exclusion.
In België geeft het beschikken over een domicilie toegang op grondrechten, doordat men ingeschreven is in het Rijksregister. Het Rijksregister centraliseert alle gegevens die door de gemeenten verzameld worden. Administratieve uitwissing heeft dus directe gevolgen voor mensen om hun sociale rechten te kunnen uitoefenen. Aan de basis van het proces van administratieve uitwissing liggen drie verschillende oorzaken: niet ingeschreven zijn, geschrapt worden of verdwijnen uit het Rijksregister. Op basis van de analyse van de gegevens in het Rijksregister neemt dit artikel het fenomeen van “administratieve uitwissing” onder de loep, waarbij mensen – al dan niet vrijwillig – uit de administratieve registers geschrapt worden of verdwijnen. Het artikel begint met een antropologische analyse van de administratieve praktijken op het vlak van domiciliëring. Vervolgens bespreekt het de kwantitatieve gegevens en de ruimtelijke spreiding van het fenomeen van administratieve uitwissing. Tot slot gaat het dieper in op een sociologisch onderzoek bij slachtoffers van administratieve uitwissing, om meer inzicht te geven in hun uitsluitingstraject.
In Belgium, having a home address allows access to fundamental rights through registration in the national register. The national register centralises all of the data collected by the municipalities. Administrative invisibilisation therefore has a direct impact on the take-up of social rights. It has three distinct origins: failure to register, deregistration and removal of persons from the national register. Based on an analysis of national register data, this article looks at the phenomenon of "administrative invisibilisation", i.e. the voluntary or involuntary disappearance or removal from administrative registers. The article begins with an anthropological analysis of administrative practices with respect to people's home addresses, followed by a quantification and spatialisation of the phenomenon of administrative invisibilisation. Finally, a sociological survey of victims of administrative invisibilisation sheds light on their pathways to exclusion.
En Belgique, la domiciliation donne accès aux droits fondamentaux par l’inscription des personnes au Registre National. Le Registre National centralise toutes les données qui sont recueillies par les ...communes. L’invisibilisation administrative a donc des conséquences directes sur la jouissance des droits sociaux. Elle a trois origines distinctes : l’absence d’inscription, la radiation, la suppression de personnes du Registre National. Au départ de l’analyse des données du Registre National, cet article s’intéresse aux phénomènes d’« invisibilisation administrative », c’est-à-dire à la disparition ou la radiation, volontaire ou involontaire, des registres administratifs. Une analyse anthropologique des pratiques administratives concernant la domiciliation des personnes introduit l’article qui est poursuivi par une quantification et une spatialisation du phénomène d'invisibilisation administrative et enfin une enquête sociologique auprès des personnes victimes d’invisibilisation administrative éclaire leurs parcours d’exclusion.
In België geeft het beschikken over een domicilie toegang op grondrechten, doordat men ingeschreven is in het Rijksregister. Het Rijksregister centraliseert alle gegevens die door de gemeenten verzameld worden. Administratieve uitwissing heeft dus directe gevolgen voor mensen om hun sociale rechten te kunnen uitoefenen. Aan de basis van het proces van administratieve uitwissing liggen drie verschillende oorzaken: niet ingeschreven zijn, geschrapt worden of verdwijnen uit het Rijksregister. Op basis van de analyse van de gegevens in het Rijksregister neemt dit artikel het fenomeen van “administratieve uitwissing” onder de loep, waarbij mensen – al dan niet vrijwillig – uit de administratieve registers geschrapt worden of verdwijnen. Het artikel begint met een antropologische analyse van de administratieve praktijken op het vlak van domiciliëring. Vervolgens bespreekt het de kwantitatieve gegevens en de ruimtelijke spreiding van het fenomeen van administratieve uitwissing. Tot slot gaat het dieper in op een sociologisch onderzoek bij slachtoffers van administratieve uitwissing, om meer inzicht te geven in hun uitsluitingstraject.
In Belgium, having a home address allows access to fundamental rights through registration in the national register. The national register centralises all of the data collected by the municipalities. Administrative invisibilisation therefore has a direct impact on the take-up of social rights. It has three distinct origins: failure to register, deregistration and removal of persons from the national register. Based on an analysis of national register data, this article looks at the phenomenon of “administrative invisibilisation”, i.e. the voluntary or involuntary disappearance or removal from administrative registers. The article begins with an anthropological analysis of administrative practices with respect to people's home addresses, followed by a quantification and spatialisation of the phenomenon of administrative invisibilisation. Finally, a sociological survey of victims of administrative invisibilisation sheds light on their pathways to exclusion.
Regional policies for entrepreneurship are currently going through a transition from increasing the quantity of entrepreneurship to increasing the quality of entrepreneurship. The next step will be ...the transition from entrepreneurship policy towards policy for an entrepreneurial economy. The entrepreneurial ecosystem approach has been heralded as a new framework accommodating these transitions. This approach starts with the entrepreneurial actor, but emphasizes the context of productive entrepreneurship. Entrepreneurship is not only the output of the system, entrepreneurs are important players themselves in creating the ecosystem and keeping it healthy. This research briefing reviews the entrepreneurial ecosystem literature and its shortcomings, and provides a novel synthesis. The entrepreneurial ecosystem approach speaks directly to practitioners, but its causal depth and evidence base is rather limited. This article provides a novel synthesis including a causal scheme of how the framework and systemic conditions of the ecosystem lead to particular entrepreneurial activities as output of the ecosystem and new value creation as outcome of the ecosystem. In addition it provides a framework for analysing the interactions between the elements within the ecosystem. This offers a much more rigorous and relevant starting point for subsequent studies into entrepreneurial ecosystems and the regional policy implications of these.
Small towns in the rural periphery are often seen as the chronic patients of regional policy, constantly in need of care but never getting well. Even in highly developed and densely populated ...countries, such regions and settlements are scarred by economic decline and demographic shrinking, leading to a spatial form of inequalities that can be described as “peripheralisation”. The discourse on peripheralisation processes is relatively new. It was introduced by the German sociologist Karl-Dieter Keim (2006), who identified the socio-spatial decoupling of rural areas from the dominant processes of centralisation and the weakening of economic potential as central features of peripheralisation. In this paper Keim's approach is applied to analyse and to compare the current situation in two small towns that have experienced serious population decline from about 10,000 (1965) to about 4000 inhabitants (2015): Johanngeorgenstadt in Germany and Ōya in Japan. Although the course of regional policy in the two countries has differed to some extent, processes of peripheralisation have been similar in the two towns, including tendencies of economic downturn and a loss of original functions. Against this backdrop, the main finding of the paper is that market-oriented strategies like neoliberal austerity policy or a Keynesian approach have not yielded the expected positive results in the past and cannot be viewed as the remedy for small towns in decline as seen here. Since endogenous development approaches also did not play a major role in either case, it is concluded that strategies negating quantitative growth like Slow City and Life Beyond Growth, which focus on quality-of-life factors, well-being and deceleration, could be a viable alternative. However, more cross-country comparative research on peripheralisation processes and their connection with socio-economic decline in small towns amidst demographic change seems to be necessary.
•Worldwide, many small towns have become the chronic patients of regional policy.•The main causes are population loss and failed adjustment to structural change.•Cases of rural shrinkage in Germany and Japan show highly similar characteristics.•Market-oriented concepts of regional policy seem unsuited to resolving the problems.•Approaches like Life Beyond Growth seem to be appropriate for small towns.
Purpose of the research
The aim of the study was to analyze and evaluate the financial indicators of local self-government and on this basis to make recommendations on increasing the efficiency and ...effectiveness of local self-government.
Methods: Both general and specific scientific methods were used in the research, such as analysis, synthesis, induction, deduction, method of expert evaluations.
Results: An analysis of the legal framework in the field of local finance and the methodology for assessing the financial condition of municipalities was performed. Based on the development, an assessment of the local self-government was made according to the tested indicators. A number of author's conclusions have been made regarding the current state of the municipalities. Author's views on increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of local self-government are presented.
Conclusions: The system of local finances is a reflection of the relations between the central and local government, between the local government and the representatives of the local community.
At present, a significant part of local budgets are still heavily dependent on government transfers from the central budget.
Female circumcision remains a social issue in Muslim society, along with the rise of gender-based violence cases in Indonesia. It has became rather a polemic after regional policy on that matter was ...issued inconsistently. This study aimed to determine the polemic of female circumcision in Garut Regency based on cultural and regional policy analysis. The study utilized qualitative method with an ethnographic approach. The data taken were based on primary data and secondary data. Data collection techniques used were interviews and literature that supports the research. The results obtained in this study are that the polemic about female circumcision occurs because of differences in views based on fatwa so that society constructs female circumcision subjectively. Differences in the belief in the concept of female circumcision, which has become a culture in society, and the different techniques or processes for implementing female circumcision have resulted in the development of perceptions of female circumcision. The inconsistency of the policies of the Minister of Health Regulations makes the community have a bias towards pros and cons by the paradigm of religious leaders, parents, gender activists, and health workers.