A Study on the Recognition of Intergovernmental Relationsamong Public Officials by Decentralization: Analysis of Mediating Effects of Cooperation Relationships

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to identify recognition of the relationship between public officials and intergovernmental rulership through decentralization. Through the analysis of the mediating effects of the cooperative relationships, the study was able to derive direct and indirect influences and relative priorities of each factor. For this study, the data of the ‘2020 Public Officials Perception Survey on Intergovernmental Relations’ from the Korea Institute of Public Administration and Security was used and applied to: have a regression analysis, analyze through Baron & Kenny(1986) 3-steps, and verify the mediating effect through the Sobel-test. The analysis verified that all factors of decentralization do carry a significant influence on ‘cooperative relationship’, but only ‘finance’ and ‘dispute settlement’ were known to have specifically significant influences on ‘recognition of intergovernmental relations’, and ‘cooperation.’ The result analyzed that the rest of factors carry a partial mediation that has a direct and indirect influence through mediation. Factors influencing the perception of intergovernmental relations are determined by the relative views of each government. The importance of finance is permanent and unchanging throughout, and dispute settlement due to the increase in regional administration(decentralization) and policy linkage reflects complex and diversified social flows. Thus, the study showed a need for advanced administrative skills and capabilities. Based on these circumstances, a cooperative relationship can be formed, but more importantly, the establishment of a cooperative relationship in cultural aspect rather than a policy-level must be done in order to form recognition of a rational relationship between governments by decentralization.