This book looks at the development of local government on a global scale: its history, practice, and future. Leon van den Dool explores local government from a practical standpoint, including human resource policy and financial management, offers a concise summary of modern public management theories, and links this theory with practice, providing case studies from countries at different stages of development. A valuable tool for students and scholars of management, Making Local Government Work is also an excellent overview for anyone interested in how such organizations really operate.

Making Government Work: A Conservative Agenda for the States is an updated version of the highly acclaimed 1994 original book. It serves as a modern-day guide for how as Americans we can move the states forward with common sense, conservative public policy initiatives to benefit the Nation as a whole. Making Government Work is a reminder that conservative reforms set the stage for unprecedented prosperity. The book contains a star-studded line up of some of today’s most powerful voices, including Nikki Haley, Chuck Norris, Rick Perry, Kathy Ireland, Rick Santorum, Chad Hennings, Jeb Bush, Dr. Art Laffer and Bob Woodson along with many more. "Making Government Work is for state government what the Contract with America was for the federal government. It is a sensible, fact based plan to create a better future through the application of sound principles." –Newt Gingrich, former Speaker of the House The author’s proceeds from the book will be donated to organizations that serve America’s veterans.

You have probably heard the adage, "all politics is local." It suggests that most of us are motivated politically by what is going on in our lives, in our actual neighborhoods and communalities. The reality is that not only does local government have the most influence in your life, but also provides the opportunity for you to make the biggest difference. In her book, "Make a Difference: Navigating the Maze of Local Government," Cynthia Northrup White offers a veritable guidebook for understanding the way local government operates and how you can make the biggest impact. This book is not only for the neighborhood citizen who wants to change the way the city picks up trash or the way tax rates are established, but also for the college student preparing for a life in the political arena. "If citizens are knowledgeable about how government works and how different levels of government interact they will be more successful in finding solutions to issues important to them." Many people desire to make a difference in their community, but they have no idea where to begin or how to proceed. It might begin with casting your vote, but that is certainly not all that can be done. In her book, "Making a Difference," Carolyn Northrop White peals away the layers of government so we can see how they function and work together. You will be amazed at how much you can do for your neighborhood and community by simply understanding how to be involved. "I believe those who read her book will not only gain new insight on how local governments work, they will also be inspired. I highly recommend her both as an author and as a speaker." Sheri Groves, Chief Administrator for Ron Marchant, Denton County Commissioner "I believe people who read this book will gain insight and inspiration on how they can make a difference in their communities through local government and community participation." Bobbie Mitchell - Denton County Commissioner I hope many will read "Making a Difference" and learn basic mechanics of local government that will equip them with information, and glean from her insights into how they can participate more effectively so that our rights and privileges may continue, and pass them on to our children and grandchildren" Eric Kaszynski Community Activist Cynthia has been active in many areas of the community serving two terms on the Lewisville, Texas, City Council. She also served as a Denton County Commissioner for two terms. Cynthia's passion for educating people on how local government works and why it is important to be involved has remained a consistent theme in all her undertakings. Her hobbies include health and fitness, and music. Actively training clients today, Cynthia has been a lifetime advocate of health and fitness, becoming a Group Fitness Instructor and Personal Trainer. A self-taught keyboard player, her musical outlets include singing and songwriting. She has produced five CD's of mostly original tunes, plays in a band, and sings and plays keyboard on the worship team in her home church.

Governments fail to provide the public goods needed for development when its leaders knowingly and deliberately ignore sound technical advice or are unable to follow it, despite the best of intentions, because of political constraints. This report focuses on two forces—citizen engagement and transparency—that hold the key to solving government failures by shaping how political markets function. Citizens are not only queueing at voting booths, but are also taking to the streets and using diverse media to pressure, sanction and select the leaders who wield power within government, including by entering as contenders for leadership. This political engagement can function in highly nuanced ways within the same formal institutional context and across the political spectrum, from autocracies to democracies. Unhealthy political engagement, when leaders are selected and sanctioned on the basis of their provision of private benefits rather than public goods, gives rise to government failures. The solutions to these failures lie in fostering healthy political engagement within any institutional context, and not in circumventing or suppressing it. Transparency, which is citizen access to publicly available information about the actions of those in government, and the consequences of these actions, can play a crucial role by nourishing political engagement.

Does the performance of your local government leave something to be desired? Maybe youre not satisfied with the services your government provides, or maybe the cost for these services is far too much. If so, take heart; you can do something about it. Steps to Local Government Reform is your step-by-step guide to undertaking reform on the local level. Public manager Allyn O. Lockner combines years of experience in the public sector to show how you, as a resident or an elected local official, can work with others to successfully implement change within your community. Lockner explains how to make numerous choices regarding the preparation for, and the study, planning, marketing, approval, implementation, and evaluation of reforms. He also shows you how to share these reform results with others. Using various criteria, comparisons, practices, analyses, and other studies aimed at local government performance, Lockner delves into the sometimes tricky world of enacting reform. He reveals how local government works and provides a map for maneuvering around bureaucratic roadblocks. In addition, he includes a comprehensive bibliography for research, an appendix of terms commonly used in the reform process, and guides to creating reform models that are likely to work. With this compendium, you can help resolve vital issues, improve your community, and live a better life.

A new way forward for sustainable quality of life in cities of all sizes Strong Towns: A Bottom-Up Revolution to Build American Prosperity is a book of forward-thinking ideas that breaks with modern wisdom to present a new vision of urban development in the United States. Presenting the foundational ideas of the Strong Towns movement he co-founded, Charles Marohn explains why cities of all sizes continue to struggle to meet their basic needs, and reveals the new paradigm that can solve this longstanding problem. Inside, you’ll learn why inducing growth and development has been the conventional response to urban financial struggles—and why it just doesn’t work. New development and high-risk investing don’t generate enough wealth to support itself, and cities continue to struggle. Read this book to find out how cities large and small can focus on bottom-up investments to minimize risk and maximize their ability to strengthen the community financially and improve citizens’ quality of life. Develop in-depth knowledge of the underlying logic behind the “traditional” search for never-ending urban growth Learn practical solutions for ameliorating financial struggles through low-risk investment and a grassroots focus Gain insights and tools that can stop the vicious cycle of budget shortfalls and unexpected downturns Become a part of the Strong Towns revolution by shifting the focus away from top-down growth toward rebuilding American prosperity Strong Towns acknowledges that there is a problem with the American approach to growth and shows community leaders a new way forward. The Strong Towns response is a revolution in how we assemble the places we live.

This report discusses the findings from a mail survey of local government economic development activities that was sent to all 540 municipalities and 100 counties in North Carolina. An important part of the analysis examines whether cities and counties differ significantly in their economic development efforts and whether smaller jurisdictions employ different types of development strategies and tools than larger ones. The survey findings also highlight the barriers that local governments face in promoting economic development and identify important technical assistance needs and gaps in local capacity.

This report states that the future of East Asian countries depends on the capacity and performance of local and provincial governments. Decentralization has unleashed local initiative and energy, with new ways to deliver services to people, with potential for continued improvement. The report, which focuses on six countries, notes the differences in the approach to decentralizing government in Cambodia, China, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam