Main Conference Theme:
Public Administration for Well-being and Growth
Calin Hintea, Dean, College of Political, Babes-Bolyai University, Department of Public Administration, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
E-mail: [email protected]
Roger Hamlin, Michigan State University, East Lansing, USAE-mail:[email protected]
Professor of Urban Planning directs several projects for the Institute for Public Policy and Social Research (IPPSR) at Michigan State U. (MSU) and is Associate Dean for International Programs at Babes-Bolyai U. He was previously Associate Director of IPPSR, Resident Fellow, and Director of International Programs and was Director of the Urban and Regional Planning Program at MSU for eleven years. He also administered the Community Planning Program at Columbus State University in Georgia.He currently directs projects that build governance capacities at the sub-national level in the US and abroad. Dr. Hamlin earned a bachelor's degree in economics from Hamilton College in New York and a Master's and Ph.D. from the Maxwell School at Syracuse University. He has worked for the Senate and the Office of Planning Services of New York and has lived and worked in South America, the Caribbean, Asia and Europe. He has authored several books on public-private partnerships. Professor Hamlin has earned the White House Achievement Award, The Nelson Jack Edwards Award and the Illinois Foundation Award. He has earned national awards from the American Planning Association and the American Institute of Certified Planners. He was a CIC Academic Leadership Fellow.
The main conference theme for 2018 is "Public Administration for Well-being and Growth.” This theme represents a focus of public administration across all types of governments and agencies and countries. As a focus, it is a thought process that should be on the mind of all public administrators.
In some peoples’ view the parts of the theme can be opposed to one another. A focus on wellbeing might be viewed as a goal of a healthier environment, greater emphasis on recreation, social justice, medical institutions and mental health systems. It can be interpreted as a need to slow down growth and focus on the individual, think more about their environment, social needs, and health concerns.
‘Growth’ might be perceived in just economic terms and may congers up images of industrial expansion, massive transportation infrastructure, and sprawling cities.For some growth means traffic congestion, a greater cost of living, more complicated bureaucratic systems and an increase in life’s tensions.
But the phrase, ‘work smarter not harder’ may be relevant here. Growth can mean a variety of things. Economic growth does not have to bring bad consequence. Yes, chaotic economic growth can cause environmental cost burdens that take years to clean up and ultimately slow down growth.It often mean uneven development that enriches some to the great disadvantage of many other which will often stymie economic development down the road.
But, careful, more thoughtful and controlled economic growth can avoid these concerns and create a more sustainable, long-term development.Economic growth is important to wellbeing. It provides opportunity for work and income that enhances wellbeing not only materialistically, but, by providing hope and offering the independence, dignity and self worth of employment and income.
Also, the word ‘grow’ implies more than just economic growth. It can mean maturity, the maturity of our understanding of the importance of the public sector and its effective function. Growth in maturity can mean raising our ethical standards, and improving the way in which we interact with and empower citizens.
The theme of the conference calls for papers that address the focus of public administration on the well-being of every individual while promoting the wealth, and stature and maturity of our communities through sustainable development, including building the capacity of public institutions. How can we balance these goals, look for synergistic and complementary growth while focusing on wellbeing? How can we develop the quality of life of our national and local communities by building smarter public institutions?