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Social and Political Factors Affect the Index of Public Management Efficiency: A Cross-Country Panel Data Study

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Abstract

The application of new technologies and the implementation of e-government have profoundly modified management systems in public administrations. In this article we create an index to measure efficiency in the management of public resources in the countries of the European Union for the period 2007–2012, both overall and in the management of resources in functions that generate most interest for citizens—education, health care, and social protection. In a second stage, we perform a cross-country panel data study to analyze how the implementation of e-government and other political and social variables influence the overall efficiency index and, by functions—human capita; state of development, democracy and corruption. Our results show that e-government, state of development, and human capital promote national expenditure efficiency. On the other hand, corruption promotes public inefficiency.

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Notes

  1. UN-Classification of the Functions of Government (COFOG): 01—General public services; 02—Defense; 03—Public order and safety; 04—Economic affairs; 05—Environmental protection; 06—Housing and community amenities; 07—Health; 08—Recreation, culture and religion; 09—Education; 10—Social protection.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Finance and Accounting, Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Murcia, Campus de Espinardo, 30100, Murcia, Spain

    María del Rocío Moreno-Enguix & Ester Gras-Gil

  2. Department of Finance and Accounting, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Nebrija, Campus Princesa, 28080, Madrid, Spain

    Laura Vanesa Lorente-Bayona

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  1. María del Rocío Moreno-Enguix
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Correspondence to María del Rocío Moreno-Enguix.

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Moreno-Enguix, M.R., Lorente-Bayona, L.V. & Gras-Gil, E. Social and Political Factors Affect the Index of Public Management Efficiency: A Cross-Country Panel Data Study. Soc Indic Res 144, 299–313 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-018-2043-8

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