The Association of British Scholars (ABS), Chandigarh Chapter and the Department of Public Administration, Panjab University, Chandigarh jointly organized a Special Lecture on “Governmental Financial Resilience under Austerity in Austria, England and Italy: How Do Local Governments Cope with Financial Shocks?” by Professor Martin Jones, Head of Department, Nottingham Business School, Nottingham Trent University, UK on 25.7.2017 Professor Ramanjit Kaur Johal, Chairperson, Department of Public Administration and Associate Director, Research Promotion Cell, Panjab University welcomed the guests and highlighted the importance of the lecture in the Indian context also as despite the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendment Acts in early 1990s local finances need much understanding. Prof. Martin Jones, the key speaker while delving upon the global financial c rises of 2010 said that financial crises provided an opportunity for theory building. He reflected upon the financial crises led to cuts to central funding, reduction in local tax receipts due to economic decline, increased demands for some services like social housing and economic, changes to funding infrastructure, unfunded policy changes and finally leading to Brexit. While discussing the case study of impact of financial crises on Derby City Council, Prof. Jones reflected on five patterns of financial resilience conceptualized by local governments i.e. Reactive Adapters, Self Regulation, Constrained Adapters, Poweress Fatalists and contended Fatalists. According to Prof. Martin these patterns result from dynamic interaction of various dimensions over time like external shocks, environmental conditions, anticipatory capacities, coping capacities and perceived vulnerabilities. The lecture was attended by large numbers consisting of faculty members, research scholars and students of the various Departments of Panjab University and local colleges, members of IIPA Regional Branch and ABS, Chandigarh Chapter. The lecture aroused a lot of discussion in which Prof. B.S. Ghuman, Dr. Nemi Chand, Dr. Bharati Garg, Dr. Jaswinder Kaur Dr. Ranjit Sandhu, Ms Swati participated. Professor B.S. Ghuman, Dean Faculty of Arts, Panjab University, Chandigarh and President ABS proposed the vote of thanks. |
