Methods to evaluate public administration efficiency: The case of the volga region

Abstract

The article considers the efficiency of state administration in the regions of the Volga Federal District (VFD): the estimation has been made on the basis of two methods that systematically evaluate the efficiency of state government bodies. The quantitative methodology that includes management financing indicators and management and management performance indicators focuses on the indicators of the population’s life quality in the region: it is the life quality that is the key factor characterizing the efficiency of regional authorities. The second methodology estimates the internal environment of the activity performed by regional authorities based on the following indicators: their number, training, wages, publicity, budget expenditures for national issues, the number of multifunctional centers (MFC), socially oriented nonprofit organizations (NPO), the impact rating of subjects’ heads, and the number of corruption crimes. Based on comparing the results of quantitative and qualitative estimations, four mechanisms have been offered to improve the efficiency of the activities performed by regional authorities: stimulating, anti-crisis, activating, and supporting.