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Why do some party leaders in Flemish municipal councils get more acquainted with New Public Management principles than others ? An investigation into the impact of their individual characteristics

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  • B. BUYLEN
  • J. CHRISTIAENS

Abstract

This paper contributes to the scarce literature on politicians’ individual characteristics as determinants of their acquaintanceship with New Public Management (NPM) concepts and tools. It focuses on party leaders as the leaders of the political groups consisting of members of the same party in the municipal council. Our sample covers 363 party leaders in Flemish municipalities. Using survey data, we combine individual factors in a regression analysis to reveal which personal characteristics mediate their processes of getting acquainted with NPM principles. Party leaders’ acquaintanceship with 5 concrete NPM concepts is used as a dependent variable. The results reveal that political experience, being majority leader, combination of political mandates at a higher political level and financial expertise have a positive effect on acquaintanceship with NPM. Economic education, gender, profession, age or size have no significant effect.

Suggested Citation

  • B. Buylen & J. Christiaens, 2012. "Why do some party leaders in Flemish municipal councils get more acquainted with New Public Management principles than others ? An investigation into the impact of their individual characteristics," Working Papers of Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Ghent University, Belgium 12/821, Ghent University, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration.
    • Handle: RePEc:rug:rugwps:12/821
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    File URL: http://wps-feb.ugent.be/Papers/wp_12_821.pdf
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    1. Stijn Goeminne & Benny Geys & Carine Smolders, 2008. "Political fragmentation and projected tax revenues: evidence from Flemish municipalities," International Tax and Public Finance, Springer;International Institute of Public Finance, vol. 15(3), pages 297-315, June.
    2. Vicente Pina & Lourdes Torres & Ana Yetano, 2009. "Accrual Accounting in EU Local Governments: One Method, Several Approaches," European Accounting Review, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 18(4), pages 765-807.
    3. Irvine Lapsley, 2009. "New Public Management: The Cruellest Invention of the Human Spirit?1," Abacus, Accounting Foundation, University of Sydney, vol. 45(1), pages 1-21, March.
    4. Kristof Steyvers & Herwig Reynaert & Thomas Block, 2010. "Team Work or Territorial War?," Public Management Review, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 12(1), pages 11-31, January.
    5. J. Christiaens & V. Van Peteghem, 2004. "Governmental Accounting Reform: Evolution Of The Implementation In Flemish Municipalities," Working Papers of Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Ghent University, Belgium 04/256, Ghent University, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration.
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    Keywords

    local government reform; NPM; party leaders;
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