Does Public Attention Impact Local Government Performance? An Empirical Study in Indonesia

Abstract

The study aims to investigate the effect of public attention on public service quality in Indonesian local governments. The study utilizes secondary data obtained from authorized government agencies in Indonesia. Using purposive sampling method, we generated a set of unbalanced panel data with total of 1,886 observations from 508 local governments during 2016-2019. Our descriptive analysis indicate that public service quality in Indonesia, on average, is already at a high level. Nevertheless, there remain several local governments that face challenges in achieving such high-quality public services. The empirical study conducted on our research data reveals a positive correlation between public attention and the quality of public services. While submitting complaints/reports is one form of public attention, more comprehensive participation, encompassing public attention in program planning, decisionmaking, and evaluation, holds significant importance. Public attention at all these stages enables the public to contribute valuable insights towards creating more effective and sustainable solutions for enhancing public service quality in Indonesia. Consequently, it is imperative for the government and related institutions to promote extensive and diverse public attention. This can be facilitated through consultation platforms, open meetings, surveys, and other mechanisms that empower the public to directly contribute to the enhancement of public services. Consequently, heightened public participation will exert a more favorable impact on the overall quality of public services in Indonesia.