EGPA Symposium
| Date | 01 March 2007 |
| Author | Elio Borgonovi,Christoph Reichard |
| DOI | 10.1177/0020852307075688 |
| Published date | 01 March 2007 |
| Subject Matter | Articles |
EGPA Symposium: Decentralization as a concept in public
sector reforms: features, impact and implications –
Introduction
Christoph Reichard and Elio Borgonovi
The following set of articles is a selection of articles which have been presented at the
research workshop ‘Decentralization as a Concept in Public Sector Reforms: Features,
Impact and Implications’ of the EGPA conference 2005 in Bern, Switzerland. The
research workshop was an opportunity for young researchers from the whole of
Europe to present papers and to discuss recent developments both of theories and
policies. The aim of the research workshop was to discuss the broad and multi-
faceted issue of decentralization from the viewpoint of public sector reforms. Papers
dealt with the following aspects:
1Comparative analysis of decentralization processes in different countries with
varying political and administrative contexts (e.g. Italy, Ireland, UK).
2Benefits and advantages of decentralization compared with the possible
weaknesses, disadvantages and costs of decentralization.
3Impact of decentralization on citizens and service users (e.g. with regard to
effectiveness, quality of services, responsiveness or legitimacy).
4Preconditions and requirements of decentralization.
5Decentralization in the context of modern multilevel governance and of
e-government and ICT.
The following articles have been selected as excellent pieces of research. As the
workshop dealt with the effects of decentralization, some of the articles pay attention
to the decentralization topic in a more indirect way, e.g. by looking at the use and
Christoph Reichard is professor emeritus of public management at the University of Potsdam,
Germany, and visiting professor (2006–7) at Bocconi University. Elio Borgonovi is professor of
public administration and management and Director of the Institute for Public Administration and
Health Care (IPAS), Bocconi University, Italy. Both were conveners of the research workshop at the
EGPA 2005 conference in Bern.
Copyright © 2007 IIAS, SAGE Publications (Los Angeles, London, New Delhi and Singapore)
Vol 73(1):43–44 [DOI:10.1177/0020852307075688]
International
Review of
Administrative
Sciences
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