Intergovernmental relations in digitalization policy
- Despite the high hopes associated with public sector digitalization, especially in times of crisis, it does not yet hold up to its potential. Both the negotiation and implementation of digitalization policy presents a challenge for all levels of government, requiring extensive coordination efforts. In general, there are conflicting views if more centralized or decentralized policy processes are more effective for coordination—a tension further exacerbated in the context of digitalization policy within multilevel systems, where the imperative of standardization collides with decentralization forces inherent in federalism.
Based on the analysis of expert interviews (n = 29), this chapter examines how digitalization policy in the context of the German federal intergovernmental relations context is located and negotiated, and how this relates to local policy implementation. Focusing on the decentralized German tax administration as a case study, the analysis reveals a shift from a conflicted to a multi-layered policy process,Despite the high hopes associated with public sector digitalization, especially in times of crisis, it does not yet hold up to its potential. Both the negotiation and implementation of digitalization policy presents a challenge for all levels of government, requiring extensive coordination efforts. In general, there are conflicting views if more centralized or decentralized policy processes are more effective for coordination—a tension further exacerbated in the context of digitalization policy within multilevel systems, where the imperative of standardization collides with decentralization forces inherent in federalism.
Based on the analysis of expert interviews (n = 29), this chapter examines how digitalization policy in the context of the German federal intergovernmental relations context is located and negotiated, and how this relates to local policy implementation. Focusing on the decentralized German tax administration as a case study, the analysis reveals a shift from a conflicted to a multi-layered policy process, underpinned by a mechanism of “concentration without centralization.” Strategic and operational competencies are bundled in an institutionalized and legally regulated network for digitalization to achieve necessary standardization of digital infrastructure. Furthermore, the research emphasizes the influence of intergovernmental relations on local implementation and the associated challenges and opportunities.…
Author details: | Liz Marla WehmeierORCiDGND |
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DOI: | https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-61790-4_9 |
ISBN: | 978-3-031-61789-8 |
ISBN: | 978-3-031-61790-4 |
Title of parent work (English): | New perspectives on intergovernmental relations |
Subtitle (English): | German tax administration between centralization and decentralization |
Publisher: | Palgrave Macmillan |
Place of publishing: | Cham |
Editor(s): | Sabine Kuhlmann, Martin Laffin, Ellen Wayenberg, Tomas Bergström |
Publication type: | Part of a Book |
Language: | English |
Date of first publication: | 2024/08/01 |
Publication year: | 2024 |
Release date: | 2024/08/05 |
Tag: | coordination; digitalization policy; implementation; intergovernmental relations |
Number of pages: | 23 |
First page: | 163 |
Last Page: | 185 |
Organizational units: | Wirtschafts- und Sozialwissenschaftliche Fakultät / Sozialwissenschaften / Fachgruppe Politik- & Verwaltungswissenschaft |
DDC classification: | 3 Sozialwissenschaften / 35 Öffentliche Verwaltung, Militärwissenschaft / 350 Öffentliche Verwaltung, Militärwissenschaft |
Peer review: | Nicht ermittelbar |
Publishing method: | Open Access / Gold Open-Access |
License (German): | ![]() |