Dissertation Defense- Nisa Yazici Aydemir
January 24, 2019
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
The Department of Public Administration is pleased to announce the upcoming doctoral dissertation defense:
Candidate: Nisa Yazici Aydemir, PhD in Public Administration
Title: "Executive Success in Fiscal Policymaking: An Exploratory Mixed Method Analysis of Large Cities”
Date/Time: Thursday January 24, 2019 1:00 pm
Location: UIC Art and Exhibition Hall (AEH)
400 South Peoria St., Chicago, IL 60607, Room 2102 (PA Conference room)
Dissertation Committee:
Dr. Yonghong Wu, Chair (UIC-Department of Public Administration)
Dr. Michael A. Pagano (UIC-Department of Public Administration)
Dr. Rebecca Hendrick (UIC-Department of Public Administration)
Dr. Michael D. Siciliano (UIC- Department of Public Administration)
Dr. Jan Ryu (Ohio University- Department of Public Administration)
*All are welcome to this public defense.*
See below for the Dissertation Abstract.
ABSTRACT
The fiscal policymaking process involves actors from executive and legislative branches of the government. Since these actors have different and usually incompatible goals, they are in constant competition to influence the outcome of the policy process in a way to serve their self-interests. The authorities and tools owned by each actor, as well as structural factors determine the winner. This dissertation analyzes the executive success in the policy process by focusing on mayoral fiscal policy proposals in large US cities.
The main contribution of this research, which uses a sequential exploratory mixed method research design, is to help develop a theory for mayoral success in fiscal policymaking. It uses a combination of qualitative and quantitative research for theory development and testing respectively. In the first phase, through case analysis of six city policy actions, it identifies the factors influencing executive success. The theoretical model of executive success which is developed as a result of within and cross-case analyses is then used to develop a research model to be tested in the quantitative research phase.
Findings suggest that, in addition to formal and personal powers of the mayor, fiscal institutions are also a predictor of executive success in making fiscal policies. Also, in contrast to existing literature, political institutions are found to have no impact on executive success. The new theoretical model developed in this research substantially alters the way executive success is perceived and studied by presenting a more comprehensive and structured logical model. The model identifies two sub-categories for executive success based on the type of decision-making style of the policy makers and discusses individual factors facilitating executive success under these categories of decision-making types. This logical framework helps develop a theory of executive success which can be used to inform empirical analyses. From a practical point of view, the findings help answer important policy questions on the necessity of several institutional rules for cities and the desirable formal powers of mayors in city governments.
Date posted
Jan 22, 2019
Date updated
Jan 23, 2019