Public Policy Processes on a Local Level – Evidence from Republic of Macedonia

Abstract

The active participation of citizens in the design, the implementation and the monitoring of development is an essential element in providing quality services at the local level. Their role is important in the process of effective governance, strengthening the civil society access to important public information, and providing opportunities for disadvantaged groups to contribute to policy making and to provide social services to people's needs. It is particularly important that the civil society can play the role of the controller in monitoring and evaluating the local policies and programs, signifying their politicians and service providers responsible for the delivery of the essential local services with good quality and fair manner.

This study focuses on the analysis of the citizens’ satisfaction with the quality of delivery of decentralized services and the appropriate sources of funding available to implement them in four municipalities in Republic of Macedonia. The main goal is to analyze the management of grants from the central government (block grants, earmarked grants and capital transfers) and the compliance with the principles of good governance in the Municipality of Chair, Krushevo, Jegunovce, and Konche.

Keywords: Decentralization, Citizens’ satisfaction, Good governance, Macedonia

JEL Classification: H4, H7