Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to analyze whether the fitness industry in Belgium is financially viable in its position as a growing commercial player within the framework of the European sport model where non-profit and public sport providers still have a strong impact. Design/methodology/approach …

As was argued in Chapter One, street-level bureaucrats work in roles with bureaucratic and professional characteristics. In an era of complex social problems, professionalism may be seen by street-level bureaucrats, policymakers and public managers as a foundation for delivering public policy that looks …

This essay provides a debate about Lasswell’s policy scientist of democracy (PSOD, 1948) in comparison to the model of liquid democracy (21st century) based on the question if the digital age requires new models of democracy. The PSOD of Lasswell, a disciplinary persona, is in favour of an elitist approach …

This small exploratory study aims to reveal the perceptions of female participants in mandatory volunteering programmes and to formulate directions for further research. We analyse how in Rotterdam the transition from labour market re-integration policies to a mandatory reciprocity approach is viewed …

This report uses experience gained during the EU Interreg IVB project ITRACT and shares transnational learning on how to deploy IT-based solutions as part of Smart Specialisation Strategies, for example, while creating answers to societal challenges. ITRACT concentrates on rural areas, where the availability …

This paper relies on knowledge gained from ITRACT (Improving Transport and Accessibility through new Communication Technologies), an Interreg IVB project in the North Sea Region. We will show how digital innovation to promote mobility and accessibility in rural areas is limited by poor data infrastructure …

Climate change and continuous urbanization contribute to an increased urban vulnerability towards flooding. Only relying on traditional flood control measures is recognized as inadequate, since the damage can be catastrophic if flood controls fail. The idea of a flood-resilient city – one which can withstand …

The successful policy intervention of the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement was the result of a combination of public and institutional advocacy. ACTA aimed to harmonise the combating of copyright infringements in the digital environment, which are believed to have been left out by the former agreements. …

The European Commission’s Fitness Check exercise, as part of the Better Regulation agenda is a very hot topic at the moment and has already covered six policy areas since 2010. At the moment, a Fitness Check is being performed on the Birds & Habitats Directives, which can be seen as the most controversial …