Elena Dobrolyubova

Public Service Delivery through Automated Self-Service Kiosks: International Experience and Prospects for Implementation in Russia

The article analyses a new trend in public service delivery -- self-service kiosks which help to improve accessibility and quality of public service provision. Based on international examples from all over the world, the authors argue that self-service kiosks should be seen as an important instrument for administrative simplification and making a better interface for interaction with the government. The advantages of this technology both in terms of convenience and in terms of possible cost reduction make self-service kiosks an attractive addition and (in some cases) a substitution of the current concept of public services provision in Russia -- single window format based on multifunctional centers of public services.

E-Government in Russia: Meeting Growing Demand in the Era of Budget Constraints

Rapid improvements in access to ICT in Russia result in increased demand for e-government services. The citizens using electronic means to apply for and receive the results of public services demonstrate higher satisfaction with quality of public service delivery, compared to those who use traditional in-person application procedures. However, both statistical and sociological data analyzed in the article suggest that the share of public services actually delivered in electronic form is still low (about 3.2% of Russian citizens managed to receive the administrative public services in electronic form in 2015). To reduce the gap in e-services development with OECD countries in the current budget constraints, there is a need to reallocate ICT resources along the key priority public functions and services and to turn e-government tools from being a cost item to becoming a factor of budget savings. To achieve such results, it is expedient to introduce the practice of measuring and monitoring service delivery transaction costs and to use cost-effectiveness as one of the key factor guiding the decision-making process on ICT investments.

Is Russia Ready for Digital Transformation

Digital transformation is becoming a mainstream of world economic development providing benefits both to consumers and to businesses adapting to the technological change. Russia, among many other countries, is currently developing a digital economy strategy aimed at supporting sustainable economic growth and increasing productivity. This paper aims to add to the current debate on the priorities of digital economy in Russia by benchmarking Russian ICT development with that in the EU countries and identifying some important preconditions for the digital transformation.

Economic Mechanisms Alternative to the State Control: Perspectives of Application

A reform of the state control is one of the eleven national priority projects in Russia and the only priority project aimed at improving government effectiveness. Most of the reform’s efforts traditionally focus on improving effectiveness and efficiency of the state control while the opportunities for using alternative mechanisms are largely neglected. Meanwhile, there is a broad range of possible alternatives to the state control and supervision activities, and they could be used for reducing risks and protecting public values and interests in various areas. The paper reviews the key types of mechanisms used as alternatives to the state control in the OECD countries. Basing on sociological surveys, the author analyses a possible perception of such a replacement of the state supervision with alternative non-governmental mechanisms on the part of the business society. This analysis allows to formulate the key conditions for using non-governmental mechanisms as a partial or complete alternative to the state control. Firstly, the nature of risks should be considered: violations of the legislation should not inevitably and promptly lead to a damage which cannot be reimbursed. Secondly, sufficient development of nongovernmental institutes should be ensured in order for them to take on the control functions along with the accountability for the achieved results. Thirdly, reallocation of the risk-related costs from the budget (taxpayers at large) to the consumers of specific sectors should be justified. It is noteworthy that the introduction of the non-governmental mechanisms should not generate significant additional administrative costs. Finally, alternative mechanisms should be used in the areas where the state control proves ineffective and inefficient.

Evaluation of the effectiveness and efficiency of the state control: labor relations

Повышение результативности и эффективности государственного контроля на сегодняшний день рассматривается как приоритетное направление совершенствования государственного управления. В этой связи особое значение приобретает четкое определение понятий и выработка критериев оценки результативности и эффективности государственного контроля, соответствующих целям проводимой реформы и отражающих конечные, значимые для общества результаты ее реализации. В статье проанализированы подходы к определению результативности и эффективности государственного контроля в России и в международной практике и сформулированы предложения по комплексному подходу к определению результативности государственного контроля на основе предотвращения, минимизации вреда и обеспечения возмещения причиненного вреда общественно значимым ценностям. Исходя из данных определений предложены и апробированы критерии оценки на примере государственного контроля в сфере трудовых отношений. По результатам оценки выявлено, что несмотря на в целом положительные тенденции, уровень защиты охраняемых законом ценностей в данной сфере существенно уступает европейскому, особенно в части смертности на производстве и экономических потерь, связанных с производственным травматизмом. В целом, реализация разработанного подхода позволит преодолеть репрессивный характер государственного контроля, направленный на выявление и наказание нарушителей обязательных требований, и сориентировать органы контроля на защиту законных прав и интересов граждан и организаций в подконтрольных сферах.