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The Future of Local Government: Twenty‐First‐Century Challenges
Author(s) -
Warner Mildred E.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
public administration review
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.721
H-Index - 139
eISSN - 1540-6210
pISSN - 0033-3352
DOI - 10.1111/j.1540-6210.2010.02257.x
Subject(s) - accountability , workforce , public service , local government , equity (law) , government (linguistics) , business , public finance , service delivery framework , balance (ability) , public administration , economic policy , face (sociological concept) , finance , economics , service (business) , economic growth , political science , marketing , sociology , medicine , social science , linguistics , philosophy , law , physical medicine and rehabilitation , macroeconomics
Local governments in the twenty‐first century face challenges regarding service delivery, finance, the workforce, and citizen engagement. While privatization was a major innovation in the last decades of the twentieth century, lack of costs savings and the loss of public values in market provision are prompting reversals in privatization, increases in regulation, and new approaches to government enterprise. The twenty‐first century must focus on rebuilding the capacity of local governments to finance critical infrastructure, attract and retain a skilled labor force, and engage citizen in designing innovative solutions to address public problems. Innovations in public service delivery will move beyond public private partnerships to models that more effectively balance accountability, equity, and efficiency concerns.