Kutatócsoport4

PPP projects in Belarus: does it breakthrough in public services

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One of our previous blog posts already discussed the development of public-private partnership in the last two decades, as well as its benefits and potential negative effects in detail. Yuri Krivorotko‘s note will examine why PPPs need in Belarus and what are the main results and shortcomings in establishing the necessary regulatory and financial framework. The author argues that, for Belarusian economy and finance, PPP becomes even more demanded and urgent. Read more…

Feasibility of green auctions in the Marosszög, Hungary

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A major goal within the 2013 reform of the EU Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) is “greening” of farming activities (that is land use change to environmentally more beneficial farming practices). The CAP provides direct incentives for such activities by means of green subsidies. This note summarise the results of an “auction game” testing the farmer’s motivation for using one of the specific instruments of that greening policy. Read more… (András Kis and Gábor Ungvári)

Welfare sector in Belarus: consistent public policy in the budget sphere?

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For a long time the Belarusian authorities characterized their national and subnational budgets with a welfare orientation. This brief note focuses on two questions: (i) what tendencies of social budgetary policy can be observed in the time of economic recession and (ii) how consistent was the welfare orientation of the central and local budgets in practice. Read more … (Yuri Krivorotko)

PPP: past, presence and prospects

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Public Private Partnership in infrastructure development divides politicians, economists and social scientists, as well. The recent hostility towards PPPs could be reversed by introducing new fiscal rules and regulatory techniques. However, these public financial management methods will work only if the political and governance environment is able to use them effectively. Read more… (Gábor Péteri)

Regionalisation and competition – Finnish social and health care reform

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In Finland, the last Governments have very clearly recognized huge need for reforms in social and health care sector. Mr Juha Sipilä’s current Government has prepared the latest reply to the old challenge: over 800 pages of new legislation draft, issued in the end of June 2016. Markku Mölläri’s article explains the key issues of the government proposal. (Markku Mölläri) Read more…

From handicraft to local council – Women empowerment in Armenia

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Armenia is a country of long-standing traditions where prevalent social perceptions often associate women primarily with the private and family spheres thus limiting their opportunities for self-realization in public and political aspects of life. This note examines the main challenges and efforts have been made in the country to improve women’s political participation and representation in decision-making positions. Read more… (Liana Aghabekyan)

Decentralization in Eastern Europe: grab the moment!

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Despite the drastic political changes in some Central European countries, local governments are still in the focus of public sector reforms in the broader region. Decentralisation has many faces: countries follow different patterns by sub-regions and in a single country also the devolution methods are transforming with time. This note will examine the recent reform waves in the East European region. Read more… (Gábor Péteri)

From formalism to merit: civil service reform in Romania

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After its accession to the European Union on 1st January 2007, one of the most important objectives of Romania has been the convergence with the rest of EU members not only in nominal terms, but also in real ones: competitiveness, wealth, poverty reduction, institutional capacity. Almost ten years after EU accession, we can say that significant progress has been realized in many areas, but in terms of institutional capacity Romania is facing the opposite of convergence: the divergence. Read more… (Victor Giosan)

 

A Crisis In Confidence

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Why the EU can be a force for positive change in the Western Balkans and reverse the crisis
British campaigners working to convince their compatriots to vote in favor of the United Kingdom leaving the European Union recently unveiled a new poster in support of their cause. The poster reads simply, “Albania, Montenegro, Macedonia, Serbia and Turkey are joining the EU. Seriously.” Read more… (Vita Terauda)