Abstract

The need for systemic efforts to improve governance quality at the regional level makes the subject of the study highly relevant to the policy agenda. The goal of the study is to develop and test a methodological approach to measuring the quality of governance at the regional level. The subject of the study includes governance performance at the regional level in Russia. The authors apply general analytical scientific methods such as quantitative, qualitative, and comparative analysis. The study is based on a review of statistical, administrative data, as well as regulatory documents, regional strategic documents, and related implementation performance reports. The study results include a review of existing approaches to measuring governance quality at the regional level, a methodological approach to evaluating the quality of governance and the results of its application. The study concludes that there is significant variation in terms of governance quality both within one region (i.e., over various quality parameters) and among regions. The dynamics of governance quality indicators also varies among regions, with some territories demonstrating improvements and others deterioration. The interregional variation cannot be explained exclusively by difference in the resources available. The regions with better governance quality demonstrate better social and economic performance. Improving quality of public governance would call for adapting reform approaches to specific regional needs. The novelty of the paper is related, first of all, to adaptation of governance performance indicators and testing the system based on the regional data, undertaking a comprehensive evaluation of the justification, effectiveness, and efficiency of the governance in Russian regions. It is recommended to use the methodology proposed in the paper for preparing and implementing governance improvement programs at the regional level.

Abstract

Ensuring fundamental human rights is a constitutional duty of the Russian state. In digital age the risks of human rights violations are increasing, which is gained newfound relevance of the need to implement a consistent state policy, especially with data processing in providing public services in a new proactive mode. The objective of this paper is to analyze legal regulation and develop a legal framework of data processing in the interests of providing proactive public services. The subject of the study is scientific publications, international and national laws and regulations, including foreign countries. The study is used formal legal and historical legal methods, method of legal interpretation as well as comparative legal method and statistical methods. The results of the study are the author's concept and typology of proactive public services, an assessment of the regulatory competence of bodies providing proactive public services, proposals for the application of the theory of informational self-determination in the context of providing proactive public services, proposals for the differentiation of legal regimes of personal data and big data processing for providing proactive public services, and what is more, legal analysis findings of data security used in proactive public service delivery. The main result of the study is a legal framework of data processing that responds to both the active intentions of a body providing a service and the subjective rights of an applicant who is a data owner. The study allows for the conclusion about the insufficient enshrinement in national legislation of the proactive public service delivery mode implemented in practice, which, meanwhile, has significant differences from the reactive mode previously implemented into the legislation. Particularly important differences relate to personal data processing and the enshrinement of general requirements for proactive public services. It is necessary to promptly develop the regulatory framework based on principles address both the rights to personal citizen data and the possibility of the state to obtain it in order to establish a regular state function to provide public services in a new format. The scientific novelty of the research is determined by the lack of regulation of the public service delivery process in the proactive mode as well as the lack of empirical research of conceptual framework of the process. Based on the results of the study recommendations are to use the findings in the formation of an appropriate regulatory framework and state policy in digital public administration and data processing in the provision of proactive public services.

Abstract

Currently, the issues of providing socially significant services in general have quite extensive regulation, based, among other things, on a significant volume of strategic planning acts. And this is completely objective, since it is this sphere of public administration that is most in demand and sensitive both in the context of the foundations of the constitutional system of the Russian Federation and its significance for the daily life of citizens. The social orientation of the state to the needs of citizens necessitates a consistent expansion of the availability and quality of socially significant services, which necessitates the formation of new narratives in this area of public relations, including the level of legal security and digital support. In this regard, new strategies and guidelines are emerging in the organization of the functioning of public power aimed at ensuring and implementing one of the basic values of the modern state - orientation to the needs of people, including all its services, which allows us to talk about the strategy of "client-centricity" in public administration, which is directly interrelated with the strategy of a "proactive" state, which is especially relevant in relation to socially significant services. The full and effective implementation of strategies and guidelines in the field of providing socially significant services largely depends on the quality of their legal support, including law enforcement, which makes it possible to raise the question of the need to monitor legislation and law enforcement in the field of socially significant services in the context of the formation of the concept of "client-centricity" in public administration and trends in the development of a new digital legal space. The results of this work can be used: in law-making and law enforcement activities of public authorities for: - improvement of legal regulation in the field of providing socially significant services, including assessment of the current regulatory framework and justification of directions for its improvement; - improvement of law enforcement practice, which will ensure the effectiveness of the provision of socially significant services.