Accountability and transparency in English local government: moving from ‘matching parts’ to ‘awkward couple’?

Ferry, Laurence and Eckersley, Peter and Zakaria, Zamzulaila (2015) Accountability and transparency in English local government: moving from ‘matching parts’ to ‘awkward couple’? Financial Accountability & Management, 31 (3). pp. 345-361. ISSN 0267-4424

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Abstract

Although excessive transparency and accountability demands can have a counterproductive effect on organisational performance (Bovens, 2005), longstanding hierarchical accountability structures to ensure financial conformance in English local government continue to endure. Interestingly however, the previously top-down regime for performance accountability in English local government has been replaced by bottom-up mechanisms such as greater transparency and a more open market for public services. Using the framework developed by Hood (2010), this paper will show how such reforms mean that transparency and accountability are moving from being ‘matching parts’ to an ‘awkward couple’, and how this has significant implications for public services.

Item Type:	Article (Journal)
Additional Information:	5122/44793
Uncontrolled Keywords:	accountability, transparency, English local government, budgeting, performance measurement
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HJ Public Finance > HJ9701 Public accounting
Kulliyyahs/Centres/Divisions/Institutes (Can select more than one option. Press CONTROL button):	Kulliyyah of Economics and Management Sciences > Department of Accounting
Depositing User:	Dr Zamzulaila Zakaria
Date Deposited:	22 Sep 2015 11:14
Last Modified:	21 Feb 2018 16:46
URI:	http://irep.iium.edu.my/id/eprint/44793

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