The ombudsman, tribunals and administrative justice section: a 2020 vision for the ombudsman sector

This article analyses the growing role for ombudsman schemes in the UK administrative justice system following the Government reforms post 2010. It argues that the ombudsman institution is perhaps the one example of an administrative justice body that looks set to emerge stronger over the period. But the ombudsman sector needs to guard against complacency, as the demands, expectations and publicity placed upon it are all likely to increase

Competing coalitions: The politics of renewable energy and fossil fuels in Mexico, South Africa and Thailand

This paper analyses why middle-income countries incentivize renewable energy despite inexpensive domestic fossil fuel resources and lack of international support. We examine the politics of renewable energy programs in Mexico, South Africa and Thailand. All three countries hold abundant local fossil fuel and renewable energy resources. We argue that renewable energy programs become implementable policy options in fossil fuel resource-rich middle-income countries when coalitions of powerful political actors support them. This study presents an analysis of the domestic coalitions in support of and those in opposition to renewable energy policies from a discourse network perspective. Discourse networks reflect actors and the arguments they share to advance or hamper the policy process. The analysis draws on a data set of 560 coded statements in support or opposition of renewable energy from media articles, policy documents and interviews. Findings show similar structures of competing coalitions in all three countries, with the discourse in all three countries revealing strong linkages between environmental and economic considerations

The impact of open data in the UK: complex, unpredictable, and political

This article examines the democratic impact of the UK coalition government's Transparency Agenda, focusing on the publication of all local government spending over £500 by councils in England. It looks at whether the new data have driven increased democratic accountability, public participation, and information transmission. The evidence suggests that the local government spending data have driven some accountability. However, rather than forging new ‘performance regimes’, creating ‘armchair auditors’, or bringing mass use and involvement, the publication creates a further element of political disruption. Assessment of the use and impact of the new spending data finds it is more complex, more unpredictable, and more political than the rhetoric around Open Data indicates. The danger is that the gap between aims and impact invites disappointment from supporters

Influencing Factors of Telemedicine Service in Bangladesh, 2024

The study explores the factors influencing the adoption of telemedicine services in Bangladesh. A quantitative approach was employed with a semi-structured questionnaire. Key findings indicate that trust and perceived usefulness are the strongest predictors of telemedicine adoption, while perceived ease of use also plays a significant role. Resistance to use was not significant, likely due to the urgency caused by COVID-19. However, perceived risk and technology anxiety negatively impacted adoption, highlighting concerns over data security and digital literacy. Surprisingly, social influence and facilitating conditions did not significantly affect adoption. The study suggests that addressing security concerns, improving digital literacy, and enhancing user-friendliness are critical for increasing telemedicine adoption in Bangladesh

Evaluating betterment projects

In the last decade Australia has experienced a series of large-scale, severe natural disasters including catastrophic bushfires, widespread and repeated flooding, intense storms and cyclones. There appears to be a prima facie case for rebuilding damaged infrastructure to a more disaster resilient (i.e. to 'betterment') standard. The purpose of this paper is to develop and illustrate a consistent and readily-applied method for developing proposals for betterment of essential public assets that can be used by governments at all levels to determine the net benefits of such proposals. Case study results demonstrate that betterment investments have the potential to deliver a positive economic return across a range of asset types and regions. However, results are highly sensitive to underlying assumptions; in particular the probability of the natural disaster affecting the infrastructure in the absence of betterment.Griffith Business School, Department of Accounting, Finance and EconomicsNo Full Tex

The constitutive effects of evaluation systems: Lessons from the policymaking process of Danish Active Labour Market Policies

In recent years, evaluation research has taken an increasing interest in the proliferation of evaluation systems. One of the main assumptions being that such evaluation systems can enhance the use of evaluations and their findings. The current article analyses this assumption by empirically studying the workings of a specific evaluation system within the Danish Ministry of Employment. By applying the concept of constitutive effects, the article analyses how the evaluation system affects processes of policymaking within the central government. It is shown how the institutionalisation of an evidence-based evaluation system, at the ministerial level, structures the process of policymaking around a specific understanding of policy content, timeframes and expertise. Based on these findings, it is argued that evaluation systems can both enhance the instrumental use of evaluations and significantly alter policymaking processes