Volatility in the use of the indicators of municipal performance: Assessment and new perspective of analysis

Sommaire Les indicateurs de performance municipale font l'objet d'un interet renouvele par les provinces et villes canadiennes, comme dans plusieurs autres pays. partir d'une revue des etudes publiees, cet essai enrichit la litterature sur deux points. Il etablit un bilan des connaissances sur leur utilisation qui prend en compte la diversite des types d'indicateurs. Il propose aussi un cadre d'analyse de l'interface politico-administrative locale qui aide a comprendre la variabilite et la volatilite dans l'utilisation de divers types d'indicateurs. Cette nouvelle perspective permet de mieux comprendre pourquoi l'utilisation des indicateurs de performance par les elus et administrateurs est limitee. Abstract The provinces and cities in Canada, like in several other countries, are studying the indicators of municipal performance with a renewed interest. Based on a review of published studies, this article expands on the existing literature in two areas. It establishes a record of their use, taking into account the diversity of indicators used. It proposes also an analytical framework of the local, political and administrative interface that helps in the understanding of the variability and the volatility in the various uses of indicators. This new perspective allows a better understanding of the reason why the use of performance indicators by elected officials and administrators is limited.