This thesis challenges the neoclassical and the state-oriented views on economic and
industrial development, using a strategic decision making theory framework and by
focusing on the changing governance of the Korean water sector as an in-depth case.
This research finds that a governance structure controlled by a few elites from the
market or the state inevitably fails to meet the public interest. Strategic decision making
theory (SDT) in this research incorporates Barzelay’s institutional processualism
(Barzelay, 2003, Barzelay and Gallego, 2006) and Moe’s concept of purposive incentive
(1981), in order to explain ‘changing’ governance and the reasons why some actors
voluntarily participate in democratic decision making despite ‘collective action
problems’. The Korean water sector, the case of this research, illustrates these ideas by
showing that governance changes result from intense interaction between interested and
purposive actors, critical events, and context. SDT analysis is complemented by an
econometric analysis, which shows that the decentralisation of decision making power
does not necessarily come with better performance unless proper governance is introduced. Solutions suggested in this thesis are democratic industrial governance and,
as an intermediate means, a democratic regulatory agency, which is beyond merely
(economic) regulation to remedy ‘market failure’ and economic bureaucrats pursuing
long term career path.
Date of Award | 1 Jan 2011 |
---|
Original language | English |
---|
Awarding Institution | |
---|
Supervisor | Rob Branston (Supervisor) |
---|
- governanace strategic decision making approach
- Water industry
The role of the state and the market in the Korean Water Sector: Strategic decision making approach for good governance
Min, K. (Author). 1 Jan 2011
Student thesis: Doctoral Thesis › PhD