Sukumar Ganapati

Open e-government in U.S. state governments: Survey evidence from Chief Information Officers

Abstract This paper examines the extent to which state governments in the United States have adopted open e-government initiatives. The adoption is examined in terms of the three pillars of open government identified by President Obamas administration: transparency, participation, and collaboration. Chief Information Officers (CIOs) of state governments were surveyed to identify the extent of the adoption. The paper highlights that open e-government initiatives are unevenly developed. Nearly two-thirds of the CIOs surveyed felt that they have achieved high levels of open e-government, but fewer CIOs felt similarly with respect to each of the pillars of open government. Whereas a majority of the CIOs deemed good strides in the achievement of transparency, they were less sanguine about achieving advanced methods in citizen participation or collaboration among agencies.

The use of ICT for open government in U.S. municipalities: Perceptions of chief administrative officers

The extent to which U. S. municipal governments have adopted open e-government initiatives is examined through a survey and interviews with chief administrative officers (CAOs) along the three dimensions of open government: transparency, participation, and collaboration. A very high share of CAOs reported satisfaction with implementing open government overall. A majority indicated achievement along each of the open government dimensions. Whereas the CAOs had a significantly positive view of collaboration, their view on challenges was negatively significant for achievement and satisfaction with open government. The interviews indicated that the CAOs do not view open government as a fad and place it high on their respective agendas.

Open government achievement and satisfaction in US federal agencies: survey evidence for the three pillars

This paper examines the impact of open government achievement and satisfaction through electronic government or e-Government at the federal level in the United States. The three principles of participation, collaboration, and transparency of open government espoused by the Obama Administration in 2009 were examined. A survey of federal agency Chief Information Officers (CIOs) was conducted and the results showed that there was high achievement by federal agencies two years after the President Obama signed the directive. However, there is much room for improvement, with around one third of agencies only reporting some achievement in the three pillars. Statistical analysis showed that overall progress of federal agencies in implementing open government was related to achievement in all three pillars of open government. Essentially agencies that do better in achieving open government, expressed greater satisfaction with what they have accomplished, meaning that success breeds further advancement in open government.

The Wireless City

In this article, we explore the evolution of wireless broadband networks in cities. We examine the technological alternatives for city-wide implementation, and the governance arrangements for such implementation. Several wireless infrastructure technologies, such as Wi-Fi, WiMax, and Mesh networks have quickly evolved during this century. In terms of governance, we identify different models of ownership and deployment of wireless networks. Although the municipal provision of wireless broadband is controversial, we argue that the municipalities have a crucial role to provide such network infrastructure.

Public Participation Geographic Information Systems: A Literature Survey

Although Public Participation Geographic Information Systems (PPGIS) efforts have grown worldwide, there is a gap in the literature on implications of PPGIS for public administration. This chapter aims to narrow this gap through a literature survey of the PPGIS implications for government agencies. GIS technology has progressively advanced from traditional desktop-based GIS to Web GIS and Geospatial Web 2.0 platforms. The advancements have broadened GIS accessibility from the domain of expert users to the domain of lay citizens. Four major aspects are identified with respect to PPGIS implications for local e-government: the significance of context; technical GIS concerns; the institutional structure of participatory decision-making processes; and empowerment. The chapter highlights how these four aspects influence differential PPGIS efforts at the local level internationally, despite the greater technological accessibility.

Measuring disaster recovery: bouncing back or reaching the counterfactual state?

How should one measure the recovery of a locale from a disaster? The measurement is crucial from a public policy and administration standpoint to determine which places should receive disaster assistance, and it affects the performance evaluation of disaster recovery programmes. This paper compares two approaches to measuring recovery: (i) bouncing back to pre-disaster conditions; and (ii) attaining the counterfactual state. The former centres on returning to normalcy following disaster-induced losses, whereas the latter focuses on attaining the state, using quasi-experimental design, which would have existed if the disaster had not occurred. Both are employed here to assess two housing recovery indicators (total new units and their valuations) in Hurricane Katrina-affected counties (rural and urban). The examination reveals significantly different outcomes for the two approaches: counties have not returned to their pre-disaster housing conditions, but they do exhibit counterfactual recovery. Moreover, rural counties may not be as vulnerable as assumed in the disaster recovery literature.

Spatial Disparity of HIV/AIDS Service Providers: The Case of Miami-Dade County

This paper examines the spatial disparity between the HIV/AIDS service providers and the HIV/AIDS patients. The empirical focus is on Miami-Dade, a large metropolitan county in the United States with a Latino population majority and a high AIDS incidence rate. This exploratory study contributes to the existing literature on geographical access to health providers. Geographic Information System (GIS) is used to examine the spatial disparity between the service providers and the patients. The study reveals that aggregate-level analysis masks the reality of the spatial disparity. Miami Dade Countys Health Department focuses on aggregate zones for prioritizing its resources. At this level, there is little spatial disparity. However, evidence of spatial disparity emerges at the ZIP-code–level analysis. The major lesson from the study is that health policies need to be based on a finer-grained analysis to address spatial disparity.

Good Intentions, Unintended Consequences: Impact of Adker Consent Decree on Miami-Dade County's Subsidized Housing

In this article, we assess the impact of the Adker consent decree, a federal desegregation agreement implemented since 1999. It requires that Miami-Dade County public-housing offers be initially made on the basis of race and that half of the eligible turnover of Section 8 vouchers be given to former or current Black public-housing residents. Although well intentioned, the decree has had unintended consequences. The decree had mixed impact on desegregating public housing; it increased public-housing vacancy; it achieved modest desegregation among Section 8 voucher recipients; and it added considerable costs to the housing agencys operations.

Community Development Districts An Innovative Institutional Framework for Financing and Managing Infrastructure in Florida

Community Development Districts (CDDs) are multipurpose, independent special districts, which are empowered to finance and manage infrastructure services in Florida. Since their authorization through a state statute in 1980, the CDDs have grown across many counties in the state. This article presents exploratory research evaluating the role of CDDs in financing and managing infrastructure services. CDDs finance infrastructure through tax-free bonds, which are paid by property owners. The arrangement is beneficial for city/county governments since infrastructure is not financed through general obligation bonds. Managerially, however, CDDs pose accountability problems, since developers rather than residents control them during their initial stage of existence.

A Century of Differential Evolution of Housing Co-operatives in Mumbai and Chennai

Since their inception at the beginning of the 20th century, the evolutionary paths of housing co-operatives have diverged in Mumbai and Chennai. Housing co-operatives in Mumbai have been principally Tenure co-operatives (i.e. for collective ownership and management). In Chennai they have been mainly Finance co-operatives (i.e. for providing loans to members). This paper makes a comparative institutional analysis of the two cities to examine the divergent evolution. The examination is important for informing the institutional conditions that enable co-operatives to flourish. Four institutional aspects are examined in this context: the local housing market, local housing policies, role of state government and co-operative institutional support structures.