Perspective from America

The two-tier local government model through the perspective of a trade officer of the Ministry of Industry and Trade who worked in the US shows many valuable experiences.

Revolution in the machine
In recent days, we have witnessed the drastic transformation of the administrative apparatus in Vietnam, with the aim of enhancing management efficiency, improving public services and moving towards sustainable development. This is an important step, demonstrating the strategic vision of the Party and State in administrative reform, especially at the local level.

For me, someone who had the opportunity to work at the Vietnam Trade Office in San Francisco, USA for more than 3 years, this reform process is not only an opportunity to restructure the administrative apparatus, but also a revolution in management methods, creating a more flexible and closer government to the people.

Administrative reform has always been one of the top priorities of the Party and State of Vietnam in recent years. One of the major goals of this reform is to build an effective, transparent and closer-to-the-people government apparatus. In particular, the decentralization of power and responsibility between levels of government, such as provincial and communal levels, is being focused on to create conditions for localities to be more autonomous in managing and developing their own socio-economic issues.

The reform process is not limited to changing the organizational structure but also includes building more effective processes and operating mechanisms. Local governments must be given greater autonomy in managing and providing public services. However, for administrative reform to achieve optimal efficiency, Vietnam needs to learn and apply successful administrative models from developed countries, the US is an example worth referring to.

Successful and flexible

The decentralized model of local government in the United States has proven to be one of the most successful and flexible administrative models in the world. In the United States, local government consists mainly of two levels of government: the State level and the Local level, with units such as counties and municipalities.

State level: The highest level of government in each state in the US, with great power and responsibility in managing important areas such as education, health, transportation and law. Each state has its own separate government, with administrative agencies and governors, enabling each state to implement policies appropriate to the specific conditions of each region.

Local level: This model includes smaller administrative units, such as counties and municipalities, that play an important role in providing essential public services such as health, security, public transportation, parks, and fire protection. Each of these units has a great deal of autonomy in operating and managing public services, allowing local governments to respond quickly to changing community needs.

Lessons

Vietnam is moving towards a two-tier local government. Illustrative photo.

Through my experience working at the Vietnam Trade Office in San Francisco, I have seen the flexibility and effectiveness of the decentralization model of government in the US. States and local units have autonomy in managing and implementing policies that suit the needs of the community. This is an important factor that helps local governments in the US operate more effectively and closer to the people.

Vietnam can learn and apply some important points from this model in the administrative reform process:

Increased autonomy at provincial and commune levels: Vietnam could give greater autonomy to provinces and communes, giving them more flexibility to manage socio-economic issues and develop local programs. This would make it easier for local governments to adapt to rapid social changes and community needs.

Reasonable budget decentralization: Budget decentralization between the central and local levels is an important factor for provinces and communes to be proactive in economic development and providing public services. The US model has demonstrated that when administrative units have the right to manage the budget, they will be able to provide public services more effectively and quickly.

Creating flexibility and closeness to the community: Local governments need to be able to adjust policies to suit the needs and characteristics of each region. Giving autonomy to local levels will create initiative in management and promote the strengths of each region, helping the government to be closer to and understand the people better.

Developing a transparent and effective public administration system: Local governments need to have clear processes in implementing public services, ensuring transparency and fairness. Innovation in organizational and operational mechanisms will help local governments operate more effectively, minimizing bureaucracy and corruption.

Administrative reform in Vietnam is an important and necessary process in the current context. Learning from and referring to successful administrative models will help Vietnam develop a more effective local government system. Strengthening autonomy for provincial and communal levels, decentralizing the budget reasonably and creating flexibility in management are the keys to achieving significant successes in administrative reform. With the strategic vision of the Party and State, and learning from advanced countries, I believe that Vietnam will enter a new stage of development, towards a local government that is closer to and better serves the people.

Source: https://congthuong.vn/chinh-quyen-dia-phuong-hai-cap-goc-nhin-tu-nuoc-my-379397.html