P08 SIG Local Governance

Panel Member(s) & Contact Details

Corresponding chair: Reto Steiner, ZHAW School of Management and Law, CH, Email: reto.steiner@zhaw.ch 

Review group chair: Denita Cepiku, University of Rome Tor Vergata, IT, Email: cepiku@economia.uniroma2.it

Filippo Giordano, LUMSA, Rome and Bocconi University, IT

Tobias Polzer, Vienna University of Economics and Business, AT

Enrico Guarini, University of Milano-Bicocca, IT

Sabine Kuhlmann, University of Potsdam, DE

Carmen Navarro, Universidad Autonóma de Madrid, ES

Christopher Tapscott, University of Western Cape - School of Government, ZA

Claudia N. Avellaneda, O’Neill School of Public & Environmental Affairs, Indiana University, USA

Summary

This panel focuses on the future of service delivery at the local government level, emphasizing innovation, responsiveness, and digital transformation. It invites research on citizen expectations, stakeholder participation, and the impact of technologies like AI on local governance. Comparative and empirical studies are encouraged, especially those exploring how digital tools reshape processes and improve public service outcomes.

Description

Globally, local authorities are significant players in the provision of public services. The local tier is close to the citizens. Therefore, developments such as societal, economical, technological and ecological changes and challenges have a direct and high impact on what services are needed at the local tier of government, and the way these services are being provided.

The aim of this panel is to discuss the future of service delivery at the local tier of government with a special emphasis on innovation and transformation at the local tier of government. Potential topics might include the following:

• What do citizens, civil society organizations and the private sector expect from their municipalities? Have the expectations changed over time? How can this be measured?
• How can citizens and other stakeholders participate in the decision-making process?
• How can local authorities become more responsive?
• How are new technologies changing the government-private sector-citizen interaction?
• What innovations are taking place at the local tier of government? How do they transform local government? How do processes change?
• Do managerial reforms improve service delivery at the local level?
• What is the role of artificial intelligence and digital transformation on decision making, the production process, local service delivery and its impact?
• What services can be made smart and what does this mean for the service delivery?

We invite scholars studying public administration and management at the local tier of government to reflect theoretically and share empirical research. We especially expect papers presenting comparative studies that for example compare local service delivery across different policy fields or tiers of government, organizational contexts or countries. A focus on the contribution of digital transformation on the local tier of government is highly appreciated.