Review article
https://doi.org/10.31297/hkju.16.2.6
Social Responsiveness and Service Performance of Local Government: The Case of Macedonia
Aleksandra Maksimovska
; St. Cyril and Methodius University, Iustinianus Primus Law Faculty, Skopje, FYR Macedonia
Aleksandar Stojkov
; St. Cyril and Methodius University, Iustinianus Primus Law Faculty, Skopje, FYR Macedonia
Abstract
Bringing services closer to the citizens is one of the primary goals of every local government. However, various social groups with diverse needs seek different social treatment and action by their local authorities. We therefore examine whether local authorities are responsive and equally open to all those needs, or if they have simply spent budget resources only to carry out the strict responsibilities
set out by the law. How can we assess responsiveness and link it with the service performance of local governments in different sectors? This paper brings into light the new concept of social responsiveness of local governments. In brief, being responsible as a local authority means carrying out duties and assigned competences. Being responsive implies reacting quickly and openly to essential needs.
Being socially responsive requires being more than just open; it implies addressing minor as well as major needs in order to keep citizens satisfied regarding a wide spectrum of public services at the local level. We argue that local governments nowadays are not only expected to react quickly and openly to essential needs, but also to address the needs of major and minor social groups in order to keep social responsiveness active and to keep the citizens satisfied, mainly regarding a wide spectrum of public services at the local level. The main result of this paper is an assessment of the nexus between local government social responsiveness and local service performance in basic areas (communal services, education, culture, and other competences, economic development and fiscal assignments) in the
case of Macedonia. This is followed by the broader theoretical background and some scientific challenges are also offered for future investigations.
Keywords
social responsiveness; local service performance; local governance; openness
Hrčak ID:
163852
URI
Publication date:
17.6.2016.
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