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The relationship between formal and informal institutions for governance of public transport

Rye, Tom LU ; Monios, Jason ; Hrelja, Robert LU and Isaksson, Karolina LU (2018) In Journal of Transport Geography 69. p.196-206
Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to understand the relationship between the formal (governance established in law) and informal institutions (governance not established in law) that underpin the planning, operation and improvement of local and regional public transport, by using case studies of four countries: Britain (more specifically England, outside London); the Netherlands; Germany; and Sweden. The paper uses a framework drawn from the literature on institutional change to analyse the interplay between the formal governance structures and the other actors and organisations that have an influence on public transport, the formal and informal relationships between them, and how informal institutions emerge to increase the effectiveness... (More)

The purpose of this paper is to understand the relationship between the formal (governance established in law) and informal institutions (governance not established in law) that underpin the planning, operation and improvement of local and regional public transport, by using case studies of four countries: Britain (more specifically England, outside London); the Netherlands; Germany; and Sweden. The paper uses a framework drawn from the literature on institutional change to analyse the interplay between the formal governance structures and the other actors and organisations that have an influence on public transport, the formal and informal relationships between them, and how informal institutions emerge to increase the effectiveness with which public transport is delivered. By selecting countries with some similarities in institutional structure, it is possible to explore how relationships can differ even within a relatively similar overall framework for public transport. Drawing on qualitative research with actors in the different countries, the research explores how informal institutions help actors negotiate the constraints of formal, statutory institutions. Findings reveal that informal institutions smooth the critical interfaces where formal institutions were producing sub-optimal public transport, thus providing evidence that the two modes of governance are, in fact, highly complementary.

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author
; ; and
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Collaboration, Formal, Governance, Informal, Institutions, Organisations, Passenger transport, Public transport
in
Journal of Transport Geography
volume
69
pages
11 pages
publisher
Pergamon Press Ltd.
external identifiers
  • scopus:85046819758
ISSN
0966-6923
DOI
10.1016/j.jtrangeo.2018.04.025
language
English
LU publication?
no
id
1cff2bcb-3ca2-4918-8fd1-c068eb12b37e
date added to LUP
2018-09-28 17:22:35
date last changed
2022-04-25 17:32:29
@article{1cff2bcb-3ca2-4918-8fd1-c068eb12b37e,
  abstract     = {{<p>The purpose of this paper is to understand the relationship between the formal (governance established in law) and informal institutions (governance not established in law) that underpin the planning, operation and improvement of local and regional public transport, by using case studies of four countries: Britain (more specifically England, outside London); the Netherlands; Germany; and Sweden. The paper uses a framework drawn from the literature on institutional change to analyse the interplay between the formal governance structures and the other actors and organisations that have an influence on public transport, the formal and informal relationships between them, and how informal institutions emerge to increase the effectiveness with which public transport is delivered. By selecting countries with some similarities in institutional structure, it is possible to explore how relationships can differ even within a relatively similar overall framework for public transport. Drawing on qualitative research with actors in the different countries, the research explores how informal institutions help actors negotiate the constraints of formal, statutory institutions. Findings reveal that informal institutions smooth the critical interfaces where formal institutions were producing sub-optimal public transport, thus providing evidence that the two modes of governance are, in fact, highly complementary.</p>}},
  author       = {{Rye, Tom and Monios, Jason and Hrelja, Robert and Isaksson, Karolina}},
  issn         = {{0966-6923}},
  keywords     = {{Collaboration; Formal; Governance; Informal; Institutions; Organisations; Passenger transport; Public transport}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{05}},
  pages        = {{196--206}},
  publisher    = {{Pergamon Press Ltd.}},
  series       = {{Journal of Transport Geography}},
  title        = {{The relationship between formal and informal institutions for governance of public transport}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jtrangeo.2018.04.025}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.jtrangeo.2018.04.025}},
  volume       = {{69}},
  year         = {{2018}},
}