Hello teal--
This is an interesting topic. I'm glad I had the opportunity to
research it. I spent just about the entire afternoon on it and have
your answer.
I first familiarized myself with the topic you're discussing. It seems
there's an increasing number of discussion about this.
I found a lot of great information for you. I weeded out a lot of
information from searches I've conducted to give you this information.
I wanted to find some sources for your paper. I have access to an
academic database. I logged onto that database and conducted a search.
Below is a series of sources that you may want to look into to support
your paper. I tried to make this list as extensive as possible for
you.
Advancing public accountability? The social services 'star' ratings
Cutler T, Waine B
PUBLIC MONEY & MANAGEMENT
23 (2): 125-128 APR 2003
Document type: Article Language: English Cited References: 19
Times Cited: 0
Abstract:
An important development in the UK public sector is the rating and
classification of service providers. The authors examine a significant
exercise of this kind: the 'star' ratings awarded to local authority
social services departments in England. The article explains why it is
difficult to accept the Government's claim that these star ratings
provide a significant advance in public accountability.
Addresses:
Cutler T, Univ London Royal Holloway & Bedford New Coll, Hlth Serv,
London NW1 4NS, England
Univ London Royal Holloway & Bedford New Coll, Hlth Serv, London NW1
4NS, England
Publisher:
BLACKWELL PUBL LTD, OXFORD
IDS Number:
665DZ
ISSN:
0954-0962
Understanding IS evaluation as a complex social process: a case study
of a UK local authority
Jones S, Hughes J
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF INFORMATION SYSTEMS
10 (4): 189-203 2001
Document type: Article Language: English Cited References: 71
Times Cited: 1
Abstract:
The increasing concern from both IS practitioners and academics about
the lack of confidence in the returns on IS investment is evidenced in
the IS literature and is further illustrated by the growing number of
methods and initiatives in this area. This is particularly evident in
the UK public sector where national and local government have a duty
to ensure that public money is spent appropriately. In this paper the
authors explore the area of IS evaluation by categorising the methods
available for use and considering the underlying assumptions of these
categories. Building on recent research work. with interpretative IS
evaluation in the private sector, the authors specifically consider UK
local government initiatives and use an in-depth case study of one UK
Local Authority to elicit lessons for IS practice. The authors contend
that there is currently a prevailing paradigm for understanding IS
evaluation based on mechanistic and functional principles that are
flawed in practice. On the basis of the case material and from the
literature, the authors argue that a complementary approach to this
paradigm based on situated practice provides a richer view and a more
practically oriented approach to IS evaluation.
KeyWords Plus:
INFORMATION-SYSTEMS
Addresses:
Jones S, Conwy Cty Borough Council, Conwy LL32 8DU, Wales
Conwy Cty Borough Council, Conwy LL32 8DU, Wales
Univ Salford, Inst Informat Syst, Salford M5 4WT, Lancs, England
Publisher:
PALGRAVE PUBLISHERS LTD, BASINGSTOKE
IDS Number:
513YZ
ISSN:
0960-085X
Capitation funding in the public sector
Smith PC, Rice N, Carr-Hill R
JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL STATISTICAL SOCIETY SERIES A-STATISTICS IN
SOCIETY
164: 217-241 Part 2 2001
Document type: Article Language: English Cited References: 58
Times Cited: 4
Abstract:
A fundamental requirement of government at all levels-national and
local-is to distribute the limited funds that it wishes to spend on
particular public services between geographical areas or institutions,
which are effectively competitors for such funds. Increasing use is
now being made of capitation methods for such purposes, in which a
standard estimate of expected expenditure is attached to a citizen
with given characteristics. Statistical methods are playing an
important role in determining such capitations, but they give rise to
profound methodological problems. This paper examines the rationale
for capitation and discusses the associated methodological issues. It
illustrates the issues raised with two examples taken from the UK
public sector: in personal social services and hospital care. Severe
limitations of the data mean that small area data are used as the unit
of observation, giving rise to considerable complexity in the model to
be estimated. As a result, a range of methodologies including
two-stage least squares and multilevel modelling methods are deployed.
The paper concludes with a suggestion for an approach which would
represent an improvement on current capitation methods, but which
would require data on individuals rather than on small areas.
Author Keywords:
health care finance, multilevel modelling, public expenditure,
resource allocation, small area analysis
KeyWords Plus:
PERSONAL SOCIAL-SERVICES, RESOURCE-ALLOCATION, ECOLOGICAL FALLACY,
REGRESSION, DETERMINANTS, EXPENDITURE, PAYMENTS, FORMULA, RISK
Addresses:
Smith PC, Univ York, Ctr Hlth Econ, York YO10 5DD, N Yorkshire,
England
Univ York, Ctr Hlth Econ, York YO10 5DD, N Yorkshire, England
Publisher:
BLACKWELL PUBL LTD, OXFORD
IDS Number:
440JK
ISSN:
0964-1998
The payment of public sector workers in the UK: reconciliation with
North American findings
Blackaby DH, Murphy PD, O'Leary NC
ECONOMICS LETTERS
65 (2): 239-243 NOV 1999
Document type: Article Language: English Cited References: 11
Times Cited: 0
Abstract:
In common with recent North American evidence, the highest wage
premiums for UK public-sector workers are found in the lower tail of
the wage distribution. Evidence of public sector underpayment at the
opposite extreme of the earnings spectrum is also apparent. (C) 1999
Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved. JEL classification: J45.
Author Keywords:
public sector, wage differentials
KeyWords Plus:
WAGE, DIFFERENTIALS, CANADA, GAP
Addresses:
O'Leary NC, Univ Swansea, Dept Econ, Singleton Pk, Swansea SA2 8PP, W
Glam, Wales
Univ Swansea, Dept Econ, Swansea SA2 8PP, W Glam, Wales
Publisher:
ELSEVIER SCIENCE SA, LAUSANNE
IDS Number:
248YK
ISSN:
0165-1765
Prescribing costs in UK general practice: The impact of hard budget
constraints
Whynes DK, Baines DL, Tolley KH
APPLIED ECONOMICS
29 (3): 393-399 MAR 1997
Document type: Article Language: English Cited References: 29
Times Cited: 4
Abstract:
The development of an internal market in UK public sector health care
has introduced hard budget constraints for those general practitioner
purchasers who elect to hold their own budgets or 'funds'.
Prescription medicines constitute an element of the fundholder's
budget and a theoretical model is developed to explain how hardening
constraints might be expected to impact upon prescribing decisions.
The model is based on a trade-off between prescribing and budget
surplus and it predicts, intel alia, that both the prescribing costs
and volume of medicines prescribed by fundholders will be lower than
for non-fundholders. A reduction in X-inefficiency is also predicted,
manifested as a higher rate of generic prescribing and the use of
computerized prescribing management. The model is found to be
consistent with the observed facts in one English health authority
(Lincolnshire).
KeyWords Plus:
UNDERPRIVILEGED AREAS, HEALTH, RATES, CARE
Addresses:
Whynes DK, UNIV NOTTINGHAM,DEPT ECON,NOTTINGHAM NG7 2RD,ENGLAND
UNIV NOTTINGHAM HOSP,SCH PUBL HLTH,NOTTINGHAM NG7 2UH,ENGLAND
Publisher:
ROUTLEDGE, LONDON
IDS Number:
WQ207
ISSN:
0003-6846
Economic discourse and the market: The case of community care
Lunt N, Mannion R, Smith P
PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION
74 (3): 369-391 FAL 1996
Document type: Article Language: English Cited References: 53
Times Cited: 2
Abstract:
The UK government has introduced fundamental reforms into the
provision of social care. The 'community care' programme, which was
fully implemented in 1993, requires local authorities to assess the
needs of potential users, to design an individual package of care that
reflects those needs, and to purchase the package from a range of
statutory, voluntary and private providers. Thus the new arrangement
introduced a 'quasi-market' in community care, along the lines of
those already operating in other areas of the UK public sector, such
as health and education. Hitherto, much analysis of the functioning of
such markets has been conducted within a neoclassical economic
framework. This article examines the relevance to the complex new
community care market of three alternative theoretical perspectives:
the transaction costs literature, the Austrian school and the new
economic sociology. It is concluded that, although neoclassical
economic discourse has been influential in shaping policy, no single
perspective can capture all the issues relevant to analysing the
market in community care. Therefore, in evaluating the reforms, an
eclectic theoretical approach will be required which draws upon a
variety of economic discourses.
Addresses:
Lunt N, UNIV YORK,SOCIAL POLICY RES UNIT,YORK YO1 5DD,N
YORKSHIRE,ENGLAND
UNIV YORK,CTR HLTH ECON,YORK YO1 5DD,N YORKSHIRE,ENGLAND
UNIV YORK,DEPT ECON & RELATED STUDIES,YORK YO1 5DD,N YORKSHIRE,ENGLAND
UNIV ST ANDREWS,DEPT MANAGEMENT,ST ANDREWS KY16 9AJ,FIFE,SCOTLAND
Publisher:
BLACKWELL PUBL LTD, OXFORD
IDS Number:
VQ805
ISSN:
0033-3298
Dragged to market: Being a profession in the postmodern world
Aldridge M
BRITISH JOURNAL OF SOCIAL WORK
26 (2): 177-194 APR 1996
Document type: Article Language: English Cited References: 57
Times Cited: 13
Abstract:
Under a regime of quasi-markets, UK public sector occupations are
having to promote themselves as enterprising and argue their case for
a share of public spending. Much of this rakes place through the news
media. In order to do this effectively, some kind of professional
grouping is essential. The paper reviews the failure of non-probation
social work to achieve a professional formation thus far. Rejecting
explanations rooted in attitudes, values and gender, it argues that
the core problem since the early 1970s has been the shifting nature of
social services work because of central government policy changes. Now
that the profile of social services tasks is more settled, it is time
for social workers to abandon their reluctance to claim distinctive
expertise and set about developing a more confident set of
intellectual skills and thus an effective voice. In a postmodern age
of sceptical consumers they need not fear elitism as they will,
rather, be judged by their effectiveness.
KeyWords Plus:
SOCIAL CARE
Addresses:
Aldridge M, UNIV NOTTINGHAM,SCH SOCIAL WORK,NOTTINGHAM NG7 2RD,ENGLAND
Publisher:
OXFORD UNIV PRESS UNITED KINGDOM, OXFORD
IDS Number:
UK304
ISSN:
0045-3102
Comprehensive performance assessment: The crock of gold at the end of
the performance rainbow?
Broadbent J
PUBLIC MONEY & MANAGEMENT
23 (1): 5-8 JAN 2003
Document type: Editorial Material Language: English Cited
References: 5 Times Cited: 1
Addresses:
Broadbent J, Univ London, Royal Holloway & Bedford New Coll, London
WC1E 7HU, England
Univ London, Royal Holloway & Bedford New Coll, London WC1E 7HU,
England
Publisher:
BLACKWELL PUBL LTD, OXFORD
IDS Number:
637RM
ISSN:
0954-0962
Next, I conducted some searches for some sample outlines of papers
that have been written that are similar to the topic we're exploring.
The most effective search was when I searched the following terms:
outline paper UK public policy finance
You may read the results of this search. The link is
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=outline+paper+UK+public+policy+finance
And the terms: outline UK paper public policy financial accountability
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=outline+UK+paper+public+policy+financial+accountability&spell=1
One outline is the following:
1: The role of government.
2: Majority voting and public spending.
3: Special interest group politics and rent-seeking.
4: Growth of the public sector: Why?
Some other sources this particular outline used are:
* Cullis, J., and P. Jones, 1998, Public finance and public choice,
OUP, 2ndedition. * Mueller, D.C., 1989, Public choice II, CUP, *
Mueller, D.C., ed., 1997, Perspectives on public choice, CUP. *
Stiglitz, 2000, Economics of the public sector, 3rdedition.
You may read about a lecture on this topic at
http://216.239.33.100/search?q=cache:yjzDgW17EYsJ:www.econ.cam.ac.uk/faculty/meissner/part2p8/outlinep2p8.pdf+outline+paper+UK+public+finance&hl=en&ie=UTF-8
I found an outline of an interesting UK public policy paper. The link
is www.econ.ed.ac.uk/research%2520outline.PDF+outline+paper+UK+public+policy+finance&hl=en&ie=UTF-8
You may read "INTEGRATING AID INTO BUDGET MANAGEMENT" by Mick Foster
at the Centre for Aid and Public Expenditure in London. I skimmed this
and it looks as though this could help you quite a bit. The link is
http://www.odi.org.uk/pppg/cape/papers/integ.html
I found a listing of white papers by students and faculty at the
University of Aberdeen on your topic. You may view this list at
http://www.abdn.ac.uk/accountancy/web_pgs/public/dept/Wps/Working_Papers.htm
A report called Public Finance and Accountability can be read online.
The link is www.scottish.parliament.uk/whats_happening/research/pdf_res_papers/rp99-10.pdf+outline+paper+UK+public+policy+finance&hl=en&ie=UTF-8
A paper called "Strengthening public financial management and
accountability and managing fiduciary risk" seems to be right on
target. You may read it at
www.dfid.gov.uk/foi/dc/21nov02_financial.pdf+outline+UK+paper+public+policy+financial+accountability&hl=en&ie=UTF-8
A paper called "The Public Finance and Accountability" also is
something you should check out, "This research paper provides a review
of the Public Finance and Accountability(Scotland) Bill, introduced in
Parliament on 7th September 1999. The paper indicatessome of the
practical implications of this legislation for the Scottish budget
process andhave been raised."
You may see this paper at
www.scottish.parliament.uk/whats_happening/research/pdf_res_papers/rp99-10.pdf+outline+UK+paper+public+policy+financial+accountability&hl=en&ie=UTF-8
You may read an outline of the UK Financial Services Authority. The
link is http://www.fsa.gov.uk/pubs/policy/launch.pdf
One site I tumbled upon that may help you out greatly is for the
Treasury of the UK government. You really should check out this site,
as their are dozens of links to helpful locations that could provide
plenty of statistics and data. The link is
http://archive.treasury.gov.uk/siteindex.html
You probably would also want to visit the site of the CIPFA Better
Governance Forum. The link is
http://www.ipf.co.uk/Governance/default.asp
If I were writing this paper using the research i've conducted this
afternoon, I would organize it in this manner:
I. Introduction -
A. What the paper is setting out to achieve
B. Why a new standard of financial accountability is necessary for
the UK public sector
II. The current state of the UK public sector economy
III. The current accountability tactics used to hold the public sector
finances in account by the UK
IV. Methods proposed by various individuals and governing bodies to
improve financial accountability in the public sector (I would list at
least two or three different methods here)
V. Which of these methods would work best in your opinion and why
(using the above sources to back up your claims)
VI. Conclusion
I hope this points you in a positive direction for your paper. If you
need any clarification or further information, please don't hesitate
to hit the "clarify" button.
Thank you,
darrel-ga |
