Accountability in Times of Austerity: Democratic Gain but Learning Loss?

Hanne Foss Hansen; Mads Bøge Kristiansen

Accountability in Times of Austerity: Democratic Gain but Learning Loss?

Hanne Foss Hansen, Mads Bøge Kristiansen

Abstract

Like other countries Denmark has been hit by the global financial, economic and fiscal crisis. The pressure on the public finances has increased and public sector reforms such as new and/or changed accountability systems for budgetng, spending controls and financial management hav been launched in the form of a Budget Law and new requirements for financial management. This makes it interesting to assess how these initiatives introduced in times of austerity affect accountability in central government, and to discuss the potential effects of them. Based on a democratic, a constitutional and a learning perspective on public accountability, we assess the two initiatives through documentary material and interviews with civil servants who have designed or implemented the initiatives. The paper shows that the two initiatives strenthen and increase accountability from a democratic and a constitutional perspective, whereas they might create some dysfunctional effects when seen from a learning perspective. The results of the analysis raises the question as to whether the same accountability system can satisfy several demands, and whether it is possible to find a balance between democratic and constitutional control and organizational learning.

Original language	English
Publication date	2014
Number of pages	28
Publication status	Published - 2014
Event	Annual Conference IRSPM - Ottawa, Canada Duration: 9 Apr 2014 → 11 Apr 2014

Conference

Conference	Annual Conference IRSPM
Country/Territory	Canada
City	Ottawa
Period	09/04/2014 → 11/04/2014

Access to Document

http://www.irspm2014.com/index.php/irspm2014/IRSPM2014/paper/view/250

Cite this

@conference{286227f050d34cfc9b10d41d93ecf9ff,

title = "Accountability in Times of Austerity: Democratic Gain but Learning Loss?",

abstract = "Like other countries Denmark has been hit by the global financial, economic and fiscal crisis. The pressure on the public finances has increased and public sector reforms such as new and/or changed accountability systems for budgetng, spending controls and financial management hav been launched in the form of a Budget Law and new requirements for financial management. This makes it interesting to assess how these initiatives introduced in times of austerity affect accountability in central government, and to discuss the potential effects of them. Based on a democratic, a constitutional and a learning perspective on public accountability, we assess the two initiatives through documentary material and interviews with civil servants who have designed or implemented the initiatives. The paper shows that the two initiatives strenthen and increase accountability from a democratic and a constitutional perspective, whereas they might create some dysfunctional effects when seen from a learning perspective. The results of the analysis raises the question as to whether the same accountability system can satisfy several demands, and whether it is possible to find a balance between democratic and constitutional control and organizational learning. ",

author = "Hansen, {Hanne Foss} and Kristiansen, {Mads B{\o}ge}",

year = "2014",

language = "English",

note = "Annual Conference IRSPM ; Conference date: 09-04-2014 Through 11-04-2014",

}

TY - CONF

T1 - Accountability in Times of Austerity

T2 - Annual Conference IRSPM

AU - Hansen, Hanne Foss

AU - Kristiansen, Mads Bøge

PY - 2014

Y1 - 2014

N2 - Like other countries Denmark has been hit by the global financial, economic and fiscal crisis. The pressure on the public finances has increased and public sector reforms such as new and/or changed accountability systems for budgetng, spending controls and financial management hav been launched in the form of a Budget Law and new requirements for financial management. This makes it interesting to assess how these initiatives introduced in times of austerity affect accountability in central government, and to discuss the potential effects of them. Based on a democratic, a constitutional and a learning perspective on public accountability, we assess the two initiatives through documentary material and interviews with civil servants who have designed or implemented the initiatives. The paper shows that the two initiatives strenthen and increase accountability from a democratic and a constitutional perspective, whereas they might create some dysfunctional effects when seen from a learning perspective. The results of the analysis raises the question as to whether the same accountability system can satisfy several demands, and whether it is possible to find a balance between democratic and constitutional control and organizational learning.

AB - Like other countries Denmark has been hit by the global financial, economic and fiscal crisis. The pressure on the public finances has increased and public sector reforms such as new and/or changed accountability systems for budgetng, spending controls and financial management hav been launched in the form of a Budget Law and new requirements for financial management. This makes it interesting to assess how these initiatives introduced in times of austerity affect accountability in central government, and to discuss the potential effects of them. Based on a democratic, a constitutional and a learning perspective on public accountability, we assess the two initiatives through documentary material and interviews with civil servants who have designed or implemented the initiatives. The paper shows that the two initiatives strenthen and increase accountability from a democratic and a constitutional perspective, whereas they might create some dysfunctional effects when seen from a learning perspective. The results of the analysis raises the question as to whether the same accountability system can satisfy several demands, and whether it is possible to find a balance between democratic and constitutional control and organizational learning.

M3 - Paper

Y2 - 9 April 2014 through 11 April 2014

ER -