Voice, responsiveness, and alternative policyvenues: An analysis of citizen complaints againstthe local government to the national Ombudsman

Tavares, António, Moreno Pires, Sara and Teles, Filipe, (2021). Voice, responsiveness, and alternative policyvenues: An analysis of citizen complaints againstthe local government to the national Ombudsman. Public Administration, 1-19

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  • Sub-type Journal article
    Author Tavares, António
    Moreno Pires, Sara
    Teles, Filipe
    Title Voice, responsiveness, and alternative policyvenues: An analysis of citizen complaints againstthe local government to the national Ombudsman
    Appearing in Public Administration
    Publication Date 2021-09
    Place of Publication New Jersey
    Publisher John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
    Start page 1
    End page 19
    Language eng
    Abstract The Ombudsman is one of the most relevant and institutionalized tools to give voice to citizens, so they can express their dissatisfaction with local public services. The literature has yet to produce a systematic explanation for the variation in complaints to the national Ombudsman. This article uses classic literature from public administration and public policy to consider arguments of voice, responsiveness and alternative policy venues concerning the role of the Ombudsman in citizen complaints against local governments. Data on all 2139 citizen complaints submitted to the Ombudsman in Portugal (2012–2015) are analyzed using negative binomial regression models. Policy implications drawn from the results show not only that the presence of alternative voice venues reduces the number of complaints to the national Ombudsman but also that context matters. Local politics stimulates civic engagement and difficult local conditions, such as unemployment, crime, and aging populations, activate citizens to resort to the Ombudsman.
    Copyright Holder John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
    Copyright Year 2021
    Copyright type All rights reserved
    ISSN 14679299
    DOI 10.1111/padm.12787
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    Created: Sat, 30 Apr 2022, 02:14:18 JST by Mario Peixoto on behalf of UNU EGOV