Knowledge-based economies, public administration reforms, and throughput legitimacy: possible linkages
Abstract
The changes in political and economic liberalized management of knowledge and human capital have introduced new governmental policies and regional strategies. New factors are shaping today's political economic discourse that foster economic growth based on knowledge, new skills and qualifications.
The liberal approach to capitalist market economies, the generation and utilization of higher-level skills, based on individual competencies, suggests that the new set of skills and qualifications is applicable to every individual. It also suggests that public administration should also advance their skills and qualifications as key instrument in shaping the societies and knowledge-based driven economies that aim to address the key structural economic reforms such as: unemployment, economic growth, competitiveness, innovation etc.
Yet, while governments, politicians and decision-makers are focused on adopting strategies and policies that aims to foster knowledge-based economies, boost productivity and accelerate competitiveness, a gap in understanding the process from the possible (diverse) risks is lacking. This research attempts to explore this limitation of SEE region to stimulate the much expected growth and development.
Moreover, this paper aims to understand whether the current dynamics of public administration reform process in the South East European (SEE) countries can support reaching the SEE2020 Strategy targets and whether there are possible linkages to administrative corruption in the region. Hence, this paper aims to identify the possible causalities between the corruption risks and the public administration reforms based on three key indicators: efficiency of public administration reform in SEE Countries (efficiency of the merit-based system); the SEE challenges of (administrative) corruption and the efficiency of innovative and R&D regional strategies.
Based on international reports, documents and surveys data (World Economic Forum (WEF) Competitiveness Index, Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) reports; EU Progress reports and SELDI Regional reports), this paper aims to offer a possible understanding of the public administration reform (PAR) as an process for legitimate implementation of other correlated comprehensive policies. By understanding the possible linkages between administrative corruption and the PAR that aim to boost economic growth and development, we will also understand how these policies are implemented on national level, transferred from EU supranational level through SEE2020 Strategy and other related instruments.
As result, we will also examine the importance of the (EU) throughput legitimacy. In conclusion, recommendations will be offered for better mitigation or elimination of barriers such as (administrative corruption) as factor for stimulating economic development, growth and well-being.