Purpose: This article investigates innovation efficiency in European Union (EU) countries and addresses methodological inconsistencies in previous research. It evaluates how efficiently national innovation systems (NISs) convert innovation-related inputs into measurable outputs, with the aim of improving the reliability and interpretability of efficiency assessments. Design/Methodology/Approach: To identify a parsimonious and statistically relevant set of indicators, the study employs Multi-Cluster Feature Selection (MCFS), a hybrid method that combines unsupervised clustering with the supervised Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO). The technique is applied to longitudinal data derived from the European Innovation Scoreboard (EIS), resulting in a consistent subset of thirteen indicators encompassing key stages of the innovation process. Following indicator selection, a two-stage Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) model is applied to assess efficiency at both the technological/ knowledge-production stage and the commercialisation stage. This approach supports differentiation between countries that are efficient in generating knowledge outputs and those that are effective in converting these outputs into economic results. Findings: The findings indicate substantial variation in innovation efficiency across EU countries. Few countries achieve high efficiency at both stages, highlighting the difficulty of sustaining performance across the entire innovation value chain. The analysis reveals persistent inefficiencies, particularly at the commercialisation stage, consistent with previous research emphasising structural barriers to translating research and development outputs into economic gains. The results also demonstrate that differences in country rankings reported in the literature are often attributable to differences in indicator selection and DEA model specification. Even among studies using similar DEA frameworks, variation in indicator inclusion leads to different classifications of country performance. Practical Implications: The methodological choices improve comparability across countries and over time, while also reducing complexity. The two-stage DEA structure provides policymakers with further insight into the internal functioning of national innovation systems and the sources of inefficiency, particularly at the commercialisation stage. This enables more targeted policy interventions that distinguish between weaknesses in knowledge production and weaknesses in the economic exploitation of innovation outputs. Originality/Value: This study contributes to the literature by introducing MCFS into the field of innovation efficiency assessment and by offering a streamlined, empirically justified set of indicators suitable for DEA applications. By combining a data-driven feature selection approach with a two-stage DEA model, the article addresses methodological fragmentation in previous research and provides a more transparent and replicable framework for evaluating national innovation systems.
Purpose: This paper aims to analyse the state of democracy in Spain on the basis of the data and values provided by the principal international democracy indices, with particular emphasis on the concept of the Rule of Law as tempered power. It focuses specifically on the parameters relating to judicial independence, the politicisation of the Administration, and the perception of corruption, and proposes measures to improve governance at the central level of the General State Administration. Design/Methodology/Approach: The study adopts a mixed methodology, employing both quantitative and qualitative methods. Its aim is to examine the implications of Spain’s scores in the democracy and Rule of Law indices, and also to analyse the constraints on the exercise of arbitrary power (Krygier), evaluating the causes of these effects with a view to proposing reforms in the field of Public Administration. Findings: The study finds that, although Spain remains within the first quartile of the democracy indices analysed, its scores on the Rule of Law indicator have declined over the last decade. Academic contribution to the field: The research consists primarily of a single-country study of Spain, using both quantitative and qualitative data in order to situate the current state of one of the principal indicators of democracy in Spain, namely the Rule of Law, within objective parameters and to analyse the main trends identified. It compares the global and Spanish situations and proposes mechanisms which, in the authors’ view, would enable Spain not only to improve its position in these indices but, above all, to strengthen constraints on arbitrary power through the adoption of a teleological approach. Research limitations/implications: The breadth of the object of study, namely the relationship between the Rule of Law and democracy, requires the analysis to be limited to a specific territory (Spain), a particular level of government (the General State Administration), and a defined time frame (from 2012, coinciding with the major global economic crisis, to the present). Likewise, the scope of the research precludes a detailed study of all the attributes that constitute the Rule of Law and, moreover, not all the indices employ the same attributes or methodologies. Practical/social implications: The study has significant practical and social implications. Beyond what is established by the various indices, current events in Spain have confirmed the existence of problematic aspects of the Rule of Law linked to the politicisation of justice and the Administration, as well as corruption, all of which affect society’s perception of the functioning of democracy. Originality/Value: This research is particularly timely, as some leaders of Spain’s principal centre-left governing party have been implicated in corruption cases. At the same time, the current Prime Minister came to power in June 2018 following the success of a motion of no confidence prompted by corruption affecting the centre-right party then leading the government. Accordingly, without calling Spain’s democratic character into question, it is necessary to focus on those elements that may help to enhance the purpose of the Rule of Law as a means of tempering the exercise of power.
It is with deep respect that we bid farewell to Prof Dr Janez Grad, a distinguished professor, visionary, and founding member of the scientific journal Uprava, now CEPAR. Through his work, he left a lasting mark on the development of scientific and professional thought in mathematics and informatics, both in Slovenia and internationally. He believed in the importance of linking theory and practice, and in the power of the written word. As a founding member of the journal, he helped create a space for critical discussion, scholarly depth, and the advancement of the field.
Purpose: This paper develops and operationalises a transparent, rule-based model of horizontal equalisation for the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBiH) and assesses its multi-year effects on disparities in fiscal capacity. It addresses a setting in which institutional asymmetry and weak central coordination have produced persistent vertical and horizontal fiscal imbalances. Design/methodology/approach: The paper combines comparative institutional analysis with a data-driven assessment of horizontal disparities. Using cantonal-level data for FBiH for the period 2018–2024, the results are interpreted within an empirical scope that excludes municipal arrangements because comparable data are unavailable and because vertical-balance issues remain politically sensitive; these issues are therefore identified as priorities for future research. The article specifies a two-pillar allocation rule: (I) a derivation share and (II) a capacity-based equalisation fund with an 80 per cent post-equalisation floor. “Before/ after” allocations are compared using subnational data for 2018–2024 at the cantonal level. Because consumption is unobserved, income is used as a residence-based proxy for VAT. Effects are tracked through the mean share of FBiH, the Gini coefficient, and the coefficient of variation, while eligibility for Pillar II is dynamic: cantons below 100 per cent before equalisation qualify each year. Findings: The simulation results indicate that the proposed model achieves significant horizontal equalisation without weakening fiscal incentives for better-performing cantons. System-wide, mean fiscal capacity rises from 88 per cent to 99 per cent of the FBiH average, while both the Gini coefficient and the coefficient of variation fall by roughly one half. Among dynamically eligible cantons, the effects are even more pronounced: the mean rises by 19 percentage points and dispersion falls by 70 per cent. High-capacity cantons remain above 100 per cent after equalisation, indicating that the model avoids over-equalisation. The results remain robust through the COVID-19 and inflation years, supporting a four-year recalibration principle. Academic contribution to the field: The paper specifies and audits a transparent two-pillar model for FBiH, centred on the per-capita fiscalcapacity gap and an 80 per cent adequacy floor calibrated to secure a comparable minimum while keeping high-capacity cantons above 100 per cent after equalisation. By connecting fiscal design with questions of institutional fairness, territorial cohesion, and rule-based governance, the article contributes to wider debates on fiscal federalism in politically fragmented systems. Because destination-based VAT, asymmetric territorial status, and reliance on proxy measures of consumption are common in federations and regional unions, the two-pillar design developed for FBiH is presented as a transferable template for converting politically negotiated tax-sharing coefficients into transparent, rule-based allocations. Research limitations/implications: The analysis uses income as a residence- based proxy for the VAT base because canton-level consumption data are unavailable. It targets horizontal fiscal capacity only; expenditure needs, cost disabilities, and municipal disparities are not modelled. The parameters, namely the 80 per cent floor and 25 per cent pool, are calibrated rather than estimated, and the simulations are mechanical rather than behavioural. Future work should triangulate proxies, such as retail turnover and VAT administrative aggregates, add cost-need modules, test parameter sensitivity, and apply panel and behavioural methods to inform the four-year recalibration. Practical implications: The framework replaces coefficient-based bargaining with rule-based, auditable allocations that preserve incentives, reduce inter-cantonal tensions, and improve predictability. It also informs two governance steps: centralising external debt service at the federallevel with transparent revenue-share compensation, and phasing in capped, performance-sensitive grants indexed to the indirect-tax pool. A four-year review anchors outcomes to the adequacy floor as fiscal and institutional conditions evolve. Social implications: By promoting convergence towards a minimum standard of fiscal capacity, the model supports equity, cohesion, and legitimacy in public finance. Transparent, rule-bound allocation can strengthen trust in institutions, improve service provision in underfunded areas, and contribute to more balanced territorial development. Originality/significance/value: The paper presents an implementable equalisation rule tailored to a highly decentralised federation and tested on 2018–2024 subnational data that include the COVID-19 and inflation shocks. It shows how an explicit floor, calibrated pool, and dynamic eligibility can compress disparities without over-equalising high-capacity jurisdictions, offering a replicable template for reform-minded federations facing similar institutional and fiscal challenges.
Purpose: This article examines the budget credibility of local governments (LGs) in two neighbouring EU countries, Slovenia and Croatia. It analyses eight economic determinants of budget deviations (BDs), defined as the difference between planned and actual budget revenues and expenditures, expressed as a proportion of planned amounts. In doing so, the study addresses an important gap in the literature by providing the first systematic empirical assessment of the economic factors shaping local budget credibility in Central and Eastern Europe, with implications for both fiscal policy and local public finance. Methodology: The analysis is based on a dynamic panel data model estimated using the system GMM approach and covers all 768 LGs in Slovenia and Croatia over the period 2016–2023. The sample comprises 128 cities and 428 municipalities in Croatia, and 12 cities and 200 municipalities in Slovenia. The empirical framework also incorporates local electoral cycles, including one election prior to and two elections during the observation period in both countries, in order to capture more fully the interaction between political and economic influences on local budgeting practices. Findings: The findings indicate that Croatian LGs display significantly greater BDs than Slovenian LGs. They also show that current BDs are strongly shaped by their lagged values, pointing to a high degree of persistence in budget credibility outcomes. In Croatia, larger population size is associated with lower BDs in total revenues and capital expenditures. In Slovenia, lower BDs are linked to lower unemployment, higher ownsource revenues, and greater reliance on government or EU grants. Overall, the results point to meaningful cross-country differences in the way socio-economic and fiscal factors affect local budget credibility, highlighting the need for context-sensitive approaches to fiscal management. Originality: This study makes an original contribution to the literature by combining comprehensive coverage of local governments with advanced econometric analysis to identify the economic determinants of local budget credibility. It also provides a basis for the development of harmonised tools for assessing budget credibility, with practical relevance for improving fiscal transparency, accountability, and sustainable local governance across EU countries. The findings may assist policymakers and fiscal managers in strengthening budget planning and execution, thereby contributing to more effective public service delivery and greater financial stability.
Purpose: This article explores the concept of open government data (OGD)-driven co-creation, which combines the principles of OGD and cocreation to stimulate innovation and create public value. It focuses specifically on the organisational characteristics and capacities that enable public organisations to engage effectively in OGD-based co-creation. Design/Methodology/Approach: Existing literature has primarily examined drivers and barriers from the perspective of data publication capabilities, while less attention has been paid to the capacities required to use OGD co-creatively. This study therefore seeks to identify the organisational features and capacities that enable public organisations to engage in OGD-driven co-creation as constructive partners. To this end, it employs a systematic literature review, synthesising findings from two distinct but related bodies of research: one focusing on OGD implementation and the other on OGD-driven co-creation. Findings: The results suggest that the capacity of public organisations to publish open data is a necessary but not sufficient condition for engaging in OGD-based co-creation. Effective engagement in such practices requires deeper organisational transformation. Specifically, public organisations must adopt co-creation as a strategic orientation, embrace a service-dominant logic, use agile and participatory approaches, and invest in building trust, leadership, and employee capabilities to support collaborative innovation based on OGD. Practical Implications: The study identifies and synthesises organisational factors that serve as preconditions for public organisations to take a constructive and active role in OGD-driven co-creation. It offers insights into the types of internal reform and capacity-building needed to prepare public organisations to co-create within open data ecosystems. Originality/Value: The article represents an initial attempt to systematically synthesise the organisational prerequisites for OGD-driven co-creation. As such, it provides a basis for further research on the development of an integrated framework for organisational readiness for OGD-driven co-creation, as well as practical tools for its assessment.
Purpose: The literature on centralisation and decentralisation pays little attention to how the structure itself influences voters’ and, ultimately, consumers’ access to public services and, through this, their attitudes. Do those who consider local governments to be essential providers of public services regard local autonomy as more important than those who expect the state to ensure the quality of services? Hungary is an excellent case for the empirical examination of this question, as the fundamentally decentralised structure established in 1990 has shifted increasingly towards centralisation in recent years. This allows us to assess how the ongoing centralisation process, implemented in several waves since 2010, shapes citizens’ attitudes and expectations towards local governments and public services. Methodology: To examine this, we use a database collected through two large-scale questionnaire surveys conducted five years apart. The data from the two population surveys (first wave in 2018, second wave in 2023) are comparable, as the same questions were repeated in both surveys. While the 2018 data collection was based on personal interviews with 1,500 respondents, the 2023 data collection was based on an online sample of 1,800 respondents, with both data collections representative in terms of municipality size, educational level, gender, and age group. The survey therefore examines the attitudes and changing expectations of the population towards local governments and public services in a system that has become increasingly centralised since 2010. I seek answers to the central question of how the government’s reduction of local government autonomy affects voters’ trust in local governments and public services. Findings: The survey results highlighted several disadvantages of the centralisation of public services, mainly resulting from the neglect of local needs. The results show that people prefer accessibility and proximity to service providers, especially when they do not perceive significant improvements in quality or accessibility. The distribution of opinions suggests that it is no exaggeration to say that local governments, by their very existence, represent a source of value for people in a certain sense. At the same time, the responses clearly show the effects of strong government centralisation, as people, especially in small towns and villages, expect certain services to be provided by the state and do not see a problem with the fact that some functions were previously the responsibility of local governments. Academic contribution to the field: The study uses empirical data processing and quantitative evaluation, thereby creating opportunities for further methodological development in research on this topic. Its methods and results differ from the mainstream of traditional research on centralisation and decentralisation, which is generally based on qualitative evaluation. The study primarily applies policy feedback theory to examine the long-term effects of centralisation on citizens’ attitudes. It reveals a “pragmatic duality” in public opinion, whereby citizens’ expectations shift towards the central state despite their normative support for local autonomy. Research implications/limitation: The results clearly show that respondents partly follow the government’s centralisation intentions; that is, the choice between local self-government and centralisation is less important to them. Although they consider the existence of local government important, they do not primarily associate it with the number or quality of public services, but rather with decision-making autonomy, so that certain decisions can be made at the local government level. Originality/value: The study is also original in that it presents and analyses changes in access to services and in relations between central government and local authorities. Using empirical and comparable databases, it shows the extent and impact of change on local consumers, thereby enriching the debate on centralisation and decentralisation and exploring possible directions for the future.
Purpose: Given their differences in missions, goals, governance, resources, and professional ethics, public and private organisations are affected differently by disruptive events such as the COVID-19 crisis. As a result, the factors supporting their respective resilience may also vary. This article provides a comprehensive analysis of resilience antecedents in public administrations based on a systematic literature review of public administration and management scholarship, and compares them with resilience factors in private enterprises. In doing so, it examines the extent to which resilience antecedents differ between the two types of organisation. The related results should constitute a sound basis for the further development of public administrations’ resilience and related research. Design/methodology/approach: The literature used in this systematic review was selected by focusing on the Web of Science (WoS), Google Scholar, and fifty top-ranked public management and management journals, chosen mainly according to their Scopus ranking. The search specifically focused on public administrations, narrowly defined as entities endowed with political authority in their field of activity, thus excluding autonomous public organisations, such as hospitals, in order to avoid unnecessary complexity. The studies included in the review also needed to address resilience in terms of the capacity to “absorb, overcome, and recover” from external or internal shocks. The data collection process was guided by the PRISMA workflow, which helped to minimise bias and ensure that only the most relevant studies were selected for in-depth analysis. Findings: In addition to identifying many common resilience factors at the organisational, team, and individual levels, mostly related to financial, material, and human resources, this review reveals key elements specific to public administrations, such as legal and bureaucratic constraints. It is argued that, according to the dominant public management paradigm, the development of this antecedent may be challenging. Furthermore, the capability to mobilise a network of partners to solve crisis-related issues seems to be particularly important for public organisations. Indeed, in the case of public administrations, cooperation with other public and private actors is essential not only for their own survival and continued functioning as organisations but also, given their societal mission, for leading the response to a crisis. Academic contribution to the field: Based on the existing scientific literature, this article clarifies the extent to which resilience antecedents differ between public administrations and private enterprises. Although general differences between the public and private sectors are well known, no such comparison has been made to date with regard to resilience factors. In doing so, it creates a solid basis for further empirical research on the numerous research gaps identified. Originality/significance/value: There are a number of factors that organisations need to work on if they wish to improve their resilience, regardless of their legal form. However, this article also identifies the resilience antecedents that are particularly important for public administrations and require specific attention from public managers.
Purpose: This paper examines key socio-demographic and health characteristics of informal caregivers and selected lifestyle pattern indicators in Slovenia. It also provides estimates of the economic value of unpaid caregiving. Design/methodology/approach: Using nationally representative data (n =1,075) collected in 2025 through a comprehensive questionnaire, we provide evidence on caregiver profiles through logistic regression modelling. Findings: The results indicate that older age and engagement in flexible or self-directed forms of employment significantly increase the likelihood of providing informal care, while notable differences emerge in the prevalence of specific health conditions, mental well-being indicators, and lifestyle patterns between caregivers and non-caregivers. Self-reported general health status does not differ significantly across the two groups, yet caregivers exhibit higher rates of musculoskeletal disorders, injuries, and certain chronic conditions. By combining data from the questionnaire with estimates from other large-scale studies on caregivers’ and their caregiving time, we estimate the economic value of unpaid caregiving at €2.1–€4.1 billion, representing approximately 3–6% of Slovenia’s GDP. Academic contribution to the field: This study contributes to the academic literature by providing the important nationally representative evidence on the socio-demographic, health, and lifestyle characteristics of informal caregivers in Slovenia. It advances research on the economics of care by combining caregiver profiling with macroeconomic valuation, thereby linking micro-level health and employment data with macro-level cost estimates of unpaid caregiving. Research implications: The findings underscore the substantial but largely unrecognised contribution of informal caregivers to the national long-term care system and emphasise the importance of considering the burden of informal care in designing not only social and health policies but also labour market measures addressing the well-being and workability of caregivers, thereby enabling sustainable complementarity between informal care and formal care systems. The evidence highlights the need to integrate support for informal caregivers into social, health, and labour market policies to sustain their ability to work and ensure the complementarity of informal and formal care. Future research could build on these findings by adopting longitudinal approaches to assess causal effects of caregiving on health and labour market outcomes. Originality/significance/value: This study combines nationally representative survey data on caregiver characteristics in Slovenia with macroeconomic valuation of unpaid caregiving, providing novel evidence for policy and research.
Purpose: This study examines the extent to which rural local public authorities in the North-West region of Romania comply with legal obligations concerning decisional transparency and citizen engagement in the adoption of normative acts during the period 2021–2023. It also explores patterns of public participation and institutional communication within the local decision-making process. Design/Methodology/Approach: The research adopts a quantitative approach based on the analysis of transparency reports published online by local public authorities, as required under national legislation. The dataset comprises 403 communes, of which 143 made accessible reports available. The study assesses trends in compliance, the frequency of draft normative acts, communication practices, and indicators of citizen participation, such as attendance at public meetings and requests for information. Findings: The findings reveal a persistent shortfall in compliance with reporting obligations, with only 12.72% of communes publishing reports in 2021, 15.21% in 2022, and 7.98% in 2023. Citizen participation remains limited and uneven, with more visible engagement observed in Bistrița-Năsăud and Sălaj counties. Despite a rise over time in the number of draft normative acts, the number of public announcements declined. Participation in public meetings reached its highest level in 2022, before decreasing substantially in 2023. Moreover, the very low number of information requests submitted by citizens and business associationssuggests either limited public awareness of, or limited interest in, the decision-making process. Practical Implications: The findings point to the need for stronger institutional efforts to improve compliance with transparency regulations, enhance digital accessibility, and diversify communication strategies. They also underline the importance of raising public awareness and fostering civic partnerships in order to strengthen citizen engagement and ensure more inclusive local governance. Originality/Value: This study provides a timely empirical assessment of transparency practices in rural Romania, thereby contributing to the literature on local governance and participatory democracy in post-transition contexts. By focusing on a large sample of communes over a recent three-year period, it highlights structural limitations in administrative capacity and citizen-state interaction, while also offering a foundation for future research and policy development.
Purpose: This article aims to analyse the effectiveness of the monitoring system for sector strategies, with particular attention to public administration reform in Kosovo. It seeks to determine whether the monitoring system serves its purpose in measuring performance and the achievement of the results envisaged in sector strategies, thereby supporting evidence-based decision-making, the measurement of institutional performance, and related processes. Design/methodology/approach: The study employs a qualitative research methodology, combining document analysis of monitoring and evaluation reports published by Kosovo institutions during 2024 and 2025, public administration reform strategies, and sector strategies related to the published monitoring and evaluation reports. This method is complemented by the authors’ non-participatory observation and by secondary literature from various international organisations, particularly the OECD, the World Bank and UNDP, as well as from civil society and other domestic stakeholders shaping results-based monitoring in Kosovo. Findings: The study reveals that Kosovo’s public administration has undertaken formal steps to institutionalise a results-based monitoring system in public sector planning, including strategic planning requirements, reporting procedures and general reporting practices. However, challenges remain regarding the quality of the results-based monitoring system and its components, including objectives, indicators, targets and related elements. Reporting, particularly the annual reporting system, is in place and practised. However, most of the analysed reports contain information primarily at the output-indicator level, while some report at the outcome level. Reporting, monitoring and evaluation at the impact level remain overly ambitious. The study also provides evidence that monitoring continues to rely heavily on administrative data, that the use of diversified information-collection methods is limited, and that civil society involvement remains restricted. Academic contribution to the field: The article contributes to the body of literature on public sector monitoring systems, particularly in newly established and transitional public administrations. It provides a country- specific analysis of Kosovo and enriches the comparative regional literature on monitoring and evaluation systems in the Western Balkan countries. The article also links theoretical perspectives with the practical implications of monitoring frameworks in public sector reforms. Originality/significance/value: The article focuses on the analysis of documents that present the monitoring framework in the context of public administration reforms and the country’s European integration process. It is valuable for public administration institutions, policy-makers in Kosovo, civil society stakeholders, donors and development partners, as well as scholars interested in public administration reforms, particularly monitoring systems in public administration.
Purpose: This article examines the development of the legal competences of public officials within the Slovenian public administration who use the Administrative Consultation Platform (ACP) when conducting procedures under the General Administrative Procedure Act (GAPA). The ACP is an open-access legal clinic that serves as a supplementary source for interpreting procedural rules. To this end, a conceptual framework delineating legal competences for public officials was developed to assess how the use of the ACP affects the development of their acquired legal competences for the purposes of conducting administrative procedures. Based on this framework, a structural model was created to enable empirical testing of the impact of public officials’ affinity for the ACP and the frequency of its use on the development of their technical-legal and entrepreneurial-relational competences. Design/methodology/approach: The theoretical component employs normative, doctrinal, and comparative research methods to study legal competence models in the existing literature. The empirical component includes statistical analysis of data collected using a questionnaire measuring the technical-legal and entrepreneurial-relational competences of public officials who use the ACP, combined with an axiological-deontological evaluation of the results. Structural equation modelling was used to verify how affinity for the ACP and the frequency of its use when conducting administrative procedures affect the development of their legal competences. Findings: The empirical study conducted in spring 2025 involved 112 public officials who conducted administrative procedures in administrative bodies and used the ACP between 2023 and 2025. The results indicate that the use of the ACP contributed significantly to the development of public officials’ legal competences, particularly relational competences, such as the ability to communicate effectively and respectfully with parties involved in the administrative procedure, and entrepreneurial competences, especially the ability to uphold core ethical principles (e.g., integrity) and proactively seek solutions that balance the public interest with parties’ rights. However, they developed technical-legal competences— such as legal reasoning for resolving procedural issues, understanding of the GAPA, and data protection regulation—to a lesser, though still not negligible, degree. Academic contribution to the field: The article focuses on relatively under-explored aspects of public officials’ legal competences. The conceptual framework represents an original contribution, complementing existing research on legal competences in a narrower context, while in a broader context it can be categorised as dealing with the subjects of administrative law and public administration. The empirical study advances scientific understanding of the impact of public officials’ affinity for the ACP and the frequency of its use on the development of their legal competences, providing key feedback for ACP stakeholders. Research/practical/social implications: The conceptual framework of legal competences serves as the foundation for further scholarly examination of the legal competences possessed by public officials and functions as a baseline for the systematic upgrading of the ACP to continue fostering the development of public officials’ legal competences while they use it. From a societal perspective, this article contributes to raising awareness of the critical importance of cultivating legal competences and of the effective utilisation of the ACP as an instrument for more participatory and problem-solving-oriented administrative decision-making processes. Originality/significance/value: The article offers an original contribution by (1) establishing a conceptual framework that advances the study of legal competences among public officials who use the ACP when conducting administrative procedures, and (2) demonstrating the pivotal role of the ACP as a repository of accumulated collective knowledge, which aids public officials in developing their legal competences and facilitates the networking of stakeholders engaged in addressing administrative law challenges. The findings provide guidelines for enhancing the effectiveness of public officials and for fulfilling the objectives and principles of Good Governance in modern public administration.
Purpose: This paper provides a comprehensive and integrative literature review of how Living Labs (LLs) are conceptualised, implemented, and evaluated within the European Union’s governance frameworks. It aims to trace the evolution of LLs beyond their original innovation rhetoric and to assess their actual contributions to co-creation, participatory governance, and circular transitions. Design/Methodology/Approach: Using a PRISMA-compliant systematic literature review methodology, the study screened 403 peer-reviewed publications from the Web of Science Core Collection. Following the application of rigorous inclusion criteria, 77 eligible studies were analysed. A co-occurrence analysis of 360 keywords was conducted using VOSviewer to identify ten thematic clusters that structure the field. The findings are discussed across four dimensions: institutional anchoring, collaborative learning, socio-economic transition, and methodological consolidation. Findings: The review reveals that LLs function as hybrid governance infrastructures that foster innovation only when they are embedded in stable institutional settings and aligned with multi-level governance systems. While many LLs claim inclusivity, their actual transformative capacity is often constrained by power asymmetries, weak institutionalisation, and methodological fragmentation. Nevertheless, high-performing LLs demonstrate significant value in facilitating systemic learning, promoting circular practices, and enabling democratic experimentation. Practical Implications: The findings emphasise the need for standardised evaluation frameworks, long-term funding mechanisms, and stronger in stitutional pathways for LL outcomes to inform policy. Policymakers and practitioners are urged to move beyond pilotism and adopt LLs as embedded tools of governance. Originality/Value: Unlike previous studies that focused narrowly on sectoral applications or isolated urban experiments, this review is the first to systematically map the evolution of Living Labs across four governanceoriented dimensions: collaborative anchoring, democratic learning, circular innovation, and methodological evaluation. By linking these dimensions to the structural conditions of institutional consolidation within EU public policy frameworks, the article provides a novel conceptual synthesis that bridges fragmented scholarship. It advances the field by offering an integrated perspective that captures the multifunctional role of Living Labs as infrastructures for systemic governance innovation.
Although the Triple Helix model has been widely analysed in the context of innovation ecosystems, its contribution to fostering the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) within public administration remains insufficiently explored. This study addresses this research gap by examining how interactions among universities, industry, and government facilitate AI integration into digital governance across selected EU countries. Purpose: The main research objectives are to: (a) assess the digital maturity of the selected EU countries; (b) evaluate how Triple Helix interactions shape AI adoption in public administration; (c) analyse the interrelationships among the three actors within the context of AI governance; and (d) explore the connections between each country’s AI strategy and its broader governance mechanisms. Design/Methodology/Approach: The research combines both quantitative and qualitative methods, utilizing data from AI Watch, the European Commission, Eurostat, Oxford Insights, and the OECD. Findings: The findings reveal significant disparities among the selected EU member states and identify critical factors that either facilitate or constrain AI integration within public administration, offering new insights into the evolving role of the Triple Helix model in the era of algorithmic governance. Practical Implications: The results are particularly relevant for public sector decision-makers, researchers in governance and innovation studies, and policymakers seeking sustainable models for digital transformation and collaborative innovation. Originality/Value: This research presents the first cross-national empirical study linking Triple Helix dynamics to AI-driven innovation in the public sector, incorporating a range of indicators. The originality of this research lies in its conceptual integration of the Triple Helix framework with the transformative capacities of artificial intelligence in reconfiguring public governance and innovation dynamics within a few EU countries.
Purpose: The Croatian population is rapidly ageing, and if current demographic trends continue, by 2050 one in three Croatians will be over the age of 65. This demographic shift implies that a smaller working-age population will need to support a growing number of elderly individuals, placing considerable strain on economic performance. Simultaneously, increasing demand for public health services has driven up public healthcare expenditures, with general hospitals bearing the majority of accumulating unpaid obligations. In this context, assessing the cost efficiency of general hospitals becomes crucial in minimising resource wastage. Design/Methodology/Approach: Cost efficiency is assessed by analysing how monetary inputs are converted into intermediate outputs. The cost efficiency of 19 Croatian general hospitals is analysed using the most common method—input-oriented Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA)— during the pre-pandemic years of 2015 and 2016, and the pandemic years of 2021 and 2022. One input is used (total expenditures and outlays of general hospitals, excluding investments in facilities) and three outputs (number of inpatient treatment days, beds/chairs occupancy rate in day hospitals, and number of outpatient services in polyclinic-consultative healthcare). Findings: Cost efficiency scores range from 48% to 100%. On average, hospitals could have reduced expenditures by 7% in 2015, 14% in 2016 and 2021, and by 16% in 2022 while maintaining current output levels. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the overall cost efficiency of general hospitals declined. Pula‑Pola and Varaždin consistently emerged as benchmark (most efficient) hospitals across all four years. In contrast, Vukovar underperformed, with cost efficiency scores below 70% throughout. For most hospitals, relative efficiency rankings remained stable over time—high performers before the pandemic continued to perform well afterward; low performers remained low. The data also indicate that larger hospitals, in terms of expenditures, generally demonstrate better cost efficiency. Academic contribution to the field: This study contributes to the literature by measuring cost inefficiencies in general hospitals, which are often overlooked in international health economics research, particularly in Central and Eastern European countries. It identifies persistent benchmarks and inefficiencies, offering a data-driven foundation for policy reforms aimed at enhancing financial sustainability and operational efficiency in Croatia’s healthcare system. Research limitations: The model incorporates a limited set of variables due to data constraints. Including additional indicators, such as pharmaceutical expenditures or case‑weighted inpatient discharges, could provide a more nuanced cost efficiency assessment. This limitation highlights the need for more comprehensive and standardised healthcare data collection in Croatia, especially from the Ministries of Health and Finance. Practical implications: These findings may assist policymakers, as costefficient general hospitals are vital to economic and social prosperity. Benchmark general hospitals can serve as models, sharing best practices in cost management and resource use that could help improve cost efficiency across general hospitals. Less efficient general hospitals should be targeted for audits, managerial training, or support with budgeting and resource allocation. Furthermore, the study provides a foundation for enhancing national hospital performance monitoring systems and data reporting standards. Originality/Value: This is the first study to calculate the cost efficiency of 19 Croatian general hospitals.
Purpose: This paper aims to identify which phases of the budgetary process are, according to the predictions of punctuated equilibrium theory, more prone to punctuations; to determine the factors influencing the occurrence of punctuations in these phases; and to test these assumptions using Czech regional data from 2005 to 2023. Design/methodology/approach: The study utilises data on Czech regional current expenditure from 2005 to 2023, disaggregated into 113 functional budget lines. A two-sample Z-test is employed to determine whether the number of large annual changes in a functional budget line differs across the approved, amended, and executed budgets. A binary logit model is applied to assess whether external shocks, electoral changes, or budget complexity increase the likelihood of punctuations in the different budget phases. Findings: The analysis reveals that punctuations occur more frequently in budget allocation than in actual spending, and that greater complexity in the budgeting process leads to an increased number of punctuations. The number of punctuations rose during the rebudgeting phase in response to the COVID-19 outbreak in 2020 and the influx of Ukrainian refugees in 2022. Elections and changes in government leadership were found to have no significant impact. Academic contribution to the field: This paper offers a novel application of punctuated equilibrium theory by linking it to the distinct phases of local government budgeting. It traces the evolution of punctuations across the stages of approved, amended, and executed budgets, and evaluates the influence of external shocks. The study demonstrates the theory’s adaptability in analysing the effects of unprecedented events on public policy and budgeting. Originality/significance/value: The research recognises the differentiation between local government budgeting phases in terms of institutional costs and exogenous shocks affecting decision-making and implementation. This segmentation of the budgetary process makes a significant contribution to both the theoretical understanding and practical application of the punctuated equilibrium theory.
Purpose: To demonstrate the necessity of reverse mapping in the implementation process of environmental policy. Design/Methodology/Approach: A representative survey (of the adult population of Bulgaria) on pro-environmental behaviour and public attitudes towards relevant policies; data analysis conducted through ANOVA and factor analysis. Findings: There is a gap between public approval of ecological goals and support for concrete measures. Preferences regarding policy tools depend on their perceived beneficial or harmful impact on the material situation of individuals. No more than 30% of citizens are willing to pay for ecological improvements. Practical Implications: Individual preferences should be monitored throughout the process of environmental policy implementation and used as evidence to inform changes in policy development. Originality/Value: The notion that individual preferences regarding policy tools are significant in the implementation of environmental policy; the composite indicator of pro-environmental behaviour.
Purpose: The purpose of this article is to clarify the meaning and character of inheritance tax from a legal perspective. It is necessary to identify its role within the tax system and explore its connections to other taxes. Such an approach is the only way to substantiate arguments in favour of retaining inheritance tax. For the purposes of this paper, we assume that most countries in the European Union continue to levy inheritance tax, which must therefore be justified. A small number of states, on the other hand, have abolished this tax. The hypothesis we aim to confirm or disprove is that inheritance tax is a traditional levy firmly embedded within the tax systems of individual countries. Design/Methodology/Approach: To achieve the aims of the paper, we follow the IMRaD methodology. Within the research section, it is necessary to characterise inheritance tax, identify its place within the tax system, and analyse the reasons behind its abolition in some jurisdictions. The research also includes an analytical-comparative component devoted to examining the individual structural elements of inheritance tax. This detailed analysis enables us to formulate a set of questions concerning the optimal and fair legal construction of the basic structural components of inheritance tax, which are addressed in the discussion section of the article. In the concluding section, we primarily determine whether the arguments for retaining or abolishing inheritance tax are more persuasive. Findings: The hypothesis that inheritance tax is a traditional levy firmly embedded within the tax systems of individual countries is confirmed. Nevertheless, the decision to impose inheritance tax remains a purely political one. As is evident from the design of its structural components, the law and legal regulation can ensure that inheritance tax is implemented in a fair manner. Academic Contribution to the Field: The research, which focuses on the fairness of inheritance tax from a legal perspective, is novel. Given that the decision to levy inheritance tax lies with political authorities, this paper offers options for designing the individual structural components of inheritance tax in consideration of other forms of taxation. Research Implications/Limitations: This paper does not examine the fairness of taxation from political, sociological, or psychological perspectives. It does not consider the possibility that populism may serve as a strategic approach for introducing or abolishing inheritance tax. Furthermore, the research does not address the economic efficiency of inheritance taxation. Originality/Value: The topic is highly original, as it addresses the legal regulation of inheritance taxation and the design of its individual structural components. The approach is applicable in all countries worldwide, regardless of whether they currently levy inheritance tax. It contributes to the discourse on inheritance taxation from a legal standpoint
Purpose: Clinical trials are a big business worldwide, bringing benefits to patients and the healthcare systems of the countries that attract them. However, despite the extremely high scientific interest in clinical research in the medical literature, there is very little economic literature on clinical research and, in particular, on the factors that influence a country's attractiveness for clinical research. The purpose of this paper is to provide a review of this literature and the main approaches and findings used. Approach: For this paper, the WoS CC database was first searched and papers on clinical trials published in 2015 or later were analyzed, with a focus on papers from the research area of business economics and public administration. Subsequently, an overview of the most important published papers on the study of the attractiveness of countries is then provided, and the methodological principles and results of the analyzed papers are explained. Findings: A review of the literature shows that there are few studies investigating the attractiveness of countries for clinical research. Furthermore, the published papers are often small and examine individual cases or small samples of countries. However, the most important factors identified are the speed, reliability and efficiency of the hospital system and the predictability of regulations. The cost of research in each country, although not unimportant, is secondary to the key factors highlighted. Practical Implications: Clinical trials are of great importance for human health. However, they are also important for economic reasons but are underrepresented in the scientific literature dealing with them. This paper provides researchers with a framework for future scientific research. However, as it focuses on the study of the attractiveness of clinical trials, it is also useful for regulators and policy makers to gain a better understanding of this field. Originality/Value: This paper offers an overview of an important but neglected scientific field and, by systematizing and interpreting the research and its results, enables further development and facilitates future research.
Purpose: The main objective of this study is to assess the level of implementation of a selected element of the SMART concept within the context of the 2030 Agenda goals across individual NUTS 3 regions of the Slovak Republic, using various analytical methods. The study specifically focuses on the development and evaluation of the indicator “employment in research, development and high-tech,” which represents a crucial component of SMART concept implementation from the labour market perspective. Methodology/Approach: To fulfil the study’s objective, in addition to analysing development trends using available statistical data, the shiftshare analysis method will be applied. This method enables the identification and comparison of regional employment growth or decline in the research, development and high-tech sector in relation to national development trends in the given sector. Another method employed is the analysis of the sector through the lens of the so called “export base theory,” which examines its export potential. Through this approach, it is possible to identify the strength of representation and the influence of a given sector in the labour market on the region’s economy. Findings: The research findings indicate that job creation in the research, development and high-tech sector does indeed reflect the implementation of the SMART concept, and in most regions, positive employment growth trends have been recorded. Despite support for employment in this sector in the Slovak Republic, only two regions—Bratislava and Košice—demonstrate a capacity to significantly contribute to the economic and social growth and competitiveness of the region by supporting this sector. Practical Implications: The study concludes by offering several options for discussing how to support the creation of space for expanding this sector or other soft sectors in the regions. This would enable regions to generate greater added value than they currently do, as the prevailing dominance of manufacturing offers limited potential for sustainable development. Originality/Value: The value of the study lies in the findings derived from the application of a wider range of research methods focused on examining the level of regional development (shift-share analysis and export base theory). The study identifies the results of the current level of implementation of the SMART concept in regions in terms of labour market transformation, and offers a perspective on further possibilities for supporting regions in this transformation. The focus is on smart and sustainable sectors that will drive the economies of regions and the country as a whole.
