Public Policy Commons^™

Where Is Local Government Going In Latin America? A Comparative Perspective, Robert Andrew Nickson

Robert Andrew Nickson

In the light of the decentralisation process now under way in Latin America, this paper seeks to address the direction of local government in the region. It proposes two Weberian ideal types of local government systems – ‘managerial’ and ‘governmental’. Ten basic features of local government systems are then used as a template to ‘situate’ Latin American local government within this typology. On the basis of this comparative framework, the paper tentatively concludes that the ‘managerial’ type of local government is gaining ground in the region.

Political Economy Of Policymaking In Paraguay, Robert Andrew Nickson

Robert Andrew Nickson

The main objective of this chapter is to analyze the public policymaking process in Paraguay, particularly with regard to the formulation and implementation of policies that affect the generation of remunerative employment. Concretely, the chapter addresses how the broad institutional (i.e., political, administrative and legal) environment influences—both negatively and positively—the potential for formulating and implementing a medium-term employment strategy for poverty reduction in Paraguay. The main policymaking focus of the employment strategy will be on the private sector. However, the potential contribution of an employment strategy for the public sector itself towards poverty reduction is also considered.

The formulation and …

Report On Survey Of Councillors In The Gambia, Robert Andrew Nickson, Munawwar Alam, Andrea Deri

Robert Andrew Nickson

This research was conducted at a national training workshop held in February 2008. Almost all councillors from The Gambia participated and all of those who attended responded to the Secretariat’s questions. It finds that a statistically ‘typical,’ ‘average’ councillor in The Gambia in 2009 can be characterised as a 41 year old male who completed secondary level education, works over 38 hours per week as a full time councillor, lives off his allowance only without any other income, serves his first term in office and represents 16,000 people.