The role of local government in mitigating the impact of recession
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Authors
Malefane, S.R.
Issue Date
2010
Type
Article
Language
en
Keywords
Local Government , Recession
Alternative Title
Abstract
The economic recession is, in public administration, recognised as an
environmental condition that emanates from the external economic
environment within which government institutions operate. Its impact is felt
by business, government and communities. The typical impact of the recession on
business holds negative implications for government, in particular municipalities
and communities. Despite the existing, though limited general research on
recession in public administration as a field of study, the recession’s impact on
communities and the reverse implications such impact has on municipalities
remain unacknowledged. In South Africa, much debate, often outlining unclear
and questionable strategies, about the recession is evident at the national sphere
of government. Notwithstanding the increasing pace of the debate, municipalities
have maintained a deafening silence, which leads one to assume that they imagine
they are immune. Not a single municipality has acknowledged the impact of the
recession on communities or the reverse implications such impact has for them,
and therefore they have not developed strategies indicative of their readiness to
circumvent it. This silence depicts municipalities not only as dependant extensions
of national spheres of government, but also as closed systems that are unresponsive
to environmental changes. The impact of the recession is felt in local communities
where municipalities have a significant developmental role to play. The recession
necessitates local government’s power of influence, adaptation processes and
sustenance.
Description
Citation
Malefane, SR & Khalo, T. 2010. The role of local government in mitigating the impact of the recession. Journal of public administration, Volume 45 (1.1), April
Publisher
South African Association of Public Administration and Management
License
Journal
Volume
Issue
PubMed ID
DOI
ISSN
0036-0767