Defining planning as an inherent aspect of human life, Branch presents conclusions reached from 20 previous volumes dealing with different aspects and applications of planning, as well as from actual professional planning experiences. He shows how planning has been a directive force during human evolution and an intrinsic element in human reactions, actions, and activities.

Focusing on the existing situation in the United States, he examines the major difficulties confronting the country with respect to planning: problems of communication, poor legislative performance, educational deficiencies, and cultural materialism. Branch presents the fullest explanation available in the literature today of planning and its place in society, and he concludes with an examination of the potentialities and limitations of existing planning in America and its relation to human behavior.

"Change (Transformation) in Government Organizations" discusses recent efforts to bring about change in government organizations. The book brings together contributions by a number of managers, practitioners, academics and consultants in the study of international, federal, state, and local government efforts to respond to increased calls for change (transformation) in public sector organizations. Each contributor describes their work in this area using as a backdrop the fact that public sector organizations continue to be under new and substantial pressures to change and transform themselves. Hence a collection of current contributions such as those in this book are intended to add to the ongoing debates and rewriting of the success and failures of change in public sector organizations. The ultimate purpose of this book is to further our knowledge about the related issues and current efforts to bring about change or transformation in public sector organizations. The contributors, all experts with extensive experience as change agents in both public and private sector organizations not only support their analyses and discussions of specific cases and change (transformation) management issues but also provide practical tools, ideas and lessons learned, intended to be generalizable to other public sector agencies and helpful to those responsible for developing, implementing and evaluating similar efforts in the years to come. The audience for the book will be government managers, scholars and others interested in undertaking or learning about such efforts.

Reductions in public sector spending mean voters will face a period of austerity, higher taxes and declining availability of public sector services. Prevailing public sector management philosophies are no longer applicable. To optimise future service provision with fewer resources will demand a reformation in organisational thinking and values.

The sound management of public finances is, in Williams' view, the most important factor in attaining the twin objectives of economic growth and improvement in the standard of living in small open developing economies. While looking at the challenges of public finance management in small states, with a focus on Barbados, this book suggests strategies of fiscal and microeconomic management for small economies that will permit them to ensure macroeconomic stability while promoting economic growth and development. In discussing the philosophy of public finance, it examines small size and openness, using both traditional criteria and modern perspectives of liberalized systems. It deals with the challenge of avoiding overly expansionary budgets and the need for counter cyclical policies in relation to macroeconomic objectives.

This book also discusses state involvement in commercial types of enterprise and the implications for efficiency and economic growth. The Keynesian approach to fiscal spending is compared with the structuralist approach, which takes into account initial conditions and inflexibilities facing small developing economies. The government's role in financing accelerated economic development, its social responsibility, and the balancing need for fiscal discipline are also considered. The public finance performance of governments is seen as facing important challenges to its capacity to champion economic development given the increasing global perception of a mostly regulatory and stabilizing role of government.

This important book presents new work by respected scholars in the field of public administration in Europe, and evaluates both American and European approaches to public sector management and administrative reform.The book begins with introductory chapters examining public management in Europe and the United States and explores the paradoxes that exist in administrative reform. Part two presents a wide range of case studies of European management reforms including the United Kingdom, France, Austria, Spain, Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland. It offers a balanced view of the managerial trend which appears to be sweeping across Western Europe. This is achieved by presenting the full spectrum of case studies from success to failure. Balance is created by presenting counter-arguments and criticisms of the prevailing trend of reform. The third part considers management, legal state and democracy. Finally, the volume concludes with a North American perspective on the administrative reform in Europe. Public Management and Administrative Reform will be indispensable to academics, policymakers and management practitioners in the public sector, especially those working within Europe.

This study offers an unprecedented examination of the state, politics, and bureaucracy from a historical and comparative perspective. Case histories of a wide variety of bureaucratic traditions are provided in an effort to text a new theoretical approach in which the theory of the state and the theory of bureaucracy, both of which have so far developed without systematic interaction, are merged. Beginning with a chapter elucidating the editor's theoretical framework, the volume proceeds to compare state tradition and bureaucratic structures in both developed countries. Essays are included on nonstate societies--the United States and Great Britain--as well as classical state societies such as France and Germany.

Governance Networks in the Public Sector presents a comprehensive study of governance networks and the management of complexities in network settings. Public, private and non-profit organizations are increasingly faced with complex, wicked problems when making decisions, developing policies or delivering services in the public sector. These activities take place in networks of interdependent actors guided by diverging and sometimes conflicting perceptions and strategies. As a result these networks are dominated by cognitive, strategic and institutional complexities. Dealing with these complexities requires sophisticated forms of coordination: network governance. This book presents the most recent theoretical and empirical insights into governance networks. It provides a conceptual framework and analytical tools to study the complexities involved in handling wicked problems in governance networks in the public sector. The book also discusses strategies and management recommendations for governments, business and third sector organisations operating in and governing networks. Governance Networks in the Public Sector is an essential text for advanced students of public management, public administration, public policy and political science, and for public managers and policymakers.

A market economy and a more liberal society have brought great challenges to China 's outdated governance structure and personnel management. To improve decision-making in government and reshape the management system in face of a more complex economy, post-Mao authorities have implemented a number of administrative reforms, including civil service reform which emphasized on selecting and promoting public officials based on their capability and work performance. Thousands of positions have been filled since the civil service system was implemented nationwide in 1993. The Chinese civil service reform is of far-reaching significance because it had the potential to be a departure from the established structure of cadre personnel management system developed in the 1950s. However, after several years of policy development, scholars observe that the new reforms have done little to undermine the old cadre system. Is this true? Or does this conclusion over-simplify the complicated implementation of the reforms?

This book examines the implementation and performance of the on-going civil service reforms in China. Using the principal-agent framework, the author draw upon key case studies showing how the reforms affect civil servants incentives and behavior in the local context and the Chinese leadership 's control over the bureaucracy. China 's reform experience speaks directly to many Asian countries facing urgent need to improve state capacity as the global financial crisis unfolds.

First published in 1973, Efficiency Criteria for Nationalised Industries asks by what criteria we should judge the efficiency of nationalised industries, what we mean by saying they should be run commercially and where the public interest should lie. In this work, Professor Nove believes we answer these questions incorrectly due to a lack of understanding of economic theory and a desire to relate real world economics to that of the text book. The author says many economists, in a world of indivisibilities, complementarities and systems, persist in thinking in terms of one-dimensional, fragmented marginalism. Professor Nove, who is known for his writings on the Soviet economy, raises many points relevant to the East as well as the West. His work contributes to the economics of socialism, while also making the case for greater realism in economic theory in general.

First published in 1984, this book examines the style of leadership amongst senior civil servants and its impact on administrative reform by investigating the work of Sir Percival Waterfield who was First Civil Service Commissioner from 1939 to 1951. He was responsible for setting up the Civil Service Selection Board which was the key institution in the pioneering new approach to personnel selection initiated in Britain after the Second World War. It has been regarded as the model for personnel recruitment in other contexts and for civil service recruitment in other countries. The book raises fundamental questions about the criteria for recruitment and promotion of leading officials in British central government and offers a rare glimpse of the day to day work of top civil servants and the administrative culture in which they operate.

The private sector involvement in public service is intended to achieve efficiency gain and better service quality through increasing private sector finance and expertise. However, these benefits are most often not achieved in developing countries due to investment risk of private finance, and problems of capacity and regulation of the private sector. This book examines private sector involvement (PSI) in solid waste collection by exploring the influence of private sector capacity and Local Governments regulations on private sector performance in terms of productivity and service quality. PSI in public service provision evolved to deal with market and government failures, so this study uses market and regulatory theories to explore the gaps in policy and practice of PSI and the factor explaining private sector performance in five cities in Ghana.

The study shows there were weak regulatory practices and non-adherence to contractual obligations (unsigned contracts and delayed payment of subsidy), and consequently led to disincentives for full cost recovery and better service quality. However, there is now a gradual well functioning system being put in place with the recent competitive bidding in two cities with signing of contracts and city-wide user charging. This study concludes that the solutions to the problem of solid waste collection and management in developing countries hinge on adherence to formal rules of regulation, use of appropriate cost recovery mechanism for low income group, and restructuring of institutional arrangement to enforce legislation.

While few economists analyzed criminal behaviour and the criminal justice process before Gary Becker's seminal 1968 paper, an enormous body of economic research on crime has since been produced. This insightful and comprehensive Handbook reviews and extends much of this important resulting research. The Handbook on the Economics of Crime provides cutting-edge and specially commissioned contributions dealing with theoretical and empirical modeling of criminal choice and behavior, including Isaac Ehrlich's exposition of what he labels the `market, or equilibrium, model of crime'. The public production and allocation of various criminal justice services is also examined, as are significant components of the costs and consequences of crime. Finally, current debates and controversies in the economics of crime literature are considered, with the expert contributors offering suggestions and guidance for future research. With a broad set of crime-related topics examined from an economic perspective, this extensive Handbook will be welcomed by academic researchers and graduate students of the economics of crime and criminology as well as legal scholars focusing on criminal law.

This multiauthor reference handbook gives a detailed, objective picture of the evolution, structure, and processes of public administration in representative Third World countries. Written by an international group of specialists with first-hand knowledge of the subject, it presents empirical studies of developing nations in Asia, the Middle East, North and Sub-Saharan Africa, the West Indies, and Latin America. The resulting data are shaped by the editor into a theoretical framework delineating the complex relationships of state, bureaucracy, and class in the Third World.

SubramaniaM's introduction provides a critical overview of development literature in the field. Each case study begins with an historical introduction and discusses the political, executive, and the administrative structures and processes. Among the specific topics covered are public enterprises, administrative departments, personnel, financial administration, and regional and local administrative units. The majority of the systems studied are affected by the unregulated power of public enterprises, the persistence of colonial legacies, and the elitism of the bureaucracy. The concluding section relates these common elements to the sociohistorical characteristics of the middle-class groups that dominate both politics and public administration. Offering new research findings and a useful theoretical synthesis, this study will promote a clearer understanding of the internal political processes of Third World nations and be of compelling interest to specialists and students concerned with Third World political economy, comparative government, and international political economy.

The publication contains selection of papers presented at the Meeting, together with the conclusion and recommendations advanced by the participants. The papers represent a conceptual framework for managing diversity in public organizations, strategies for meeting the challenges of diversity management in the civil service, as well as different dimensions of diversity in the civil service: regional differentials of diversity and selected themes such as women and persons with disabilities. This volume was prepared for publication jointly by the Division for Public Economics and Public Administration (DPEPA) of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs and the International Institute of Administrative Sciences (IIAS), which is headquartered in Brussels. It is a follow-up to the Expert Group Meeting on Managing Diversity in the Civil Service organized by DPEPA and held on 3 and 4 May 2001, at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. The Meeting was arranged in the context of the Year of Dialogue among Civilizations and attended by scholars and practitioners in the field of public administration.

Numerous opportunities have come and gone over the past 20 years of democracy in South Africa for the State to engage with Civil Society and bring development closer to its intended beneficiaries. Civil Society, through its advocacy initiatives, has secured for itself a greater voice and choice in development, and every role player therein should continuously endeavour to make a difference by participating actively and meaningfully in development. Authentic, sustainable grassroots transformation and development, however, is not possible without public participation, social learning, self-reliance and empowerment. Development, the State and Civil Society in South Africa addresses the practical reality of the development consultant, government and public sector change agent, politician and policy maker. Departing from a humanist and people-centred perspective, it captures the fundamentals upon which most development theory, policy, programmes/projects and practices are based, namely cooperation, participatory planning and public participation. The book follows a holistic, multidisciplinary approach to assessing development management principles and strategies. Important challenges in development management and related practice and policy interventions are also functionally integrated. Contents include the following: Development theories, management and the democratic developmental State; Promoting people-centred development and good governance; The role of developmental non-governmental organisations; The private sector and social responsibility; The role of trade unions and international development agencies; Micro-level development and public participation; Integrated Development Planning (IDP); Social development research; Chapter review questions test knowledge and understanding of issues discussed, and encourage critical examination from different perspectives. The final chapter provides guidelines for writing scientific documents and using basic social research methodology - essential skills for all researchers and practitioners in development management.

The introduction of new public management first in the UK and subsequently in most other European member states has been the subject of a great deal of interest within the last decade. However, the impact of this on personnel policies and practices has been less well documented, although they have had far reaching effects. This book seeks to fill that gap by mapping out the changes in personnel management occurring throughout Europe and, in particular, evaluating the changes that have been driven by the move to greater flexibility and market responsiveness in public personnel policies including an examination of the US for comparative purposes.

This widely praised work provides a framework for the many voices calling for the reaffirmation of democratic values, citizenship, and service in the public interest. The expanded edition includes an all-new chapter that addresses the practical issues of applying these ideals in actual, real-life situations. "The New Public Service, Expanded Edition" is organized around a set of seven core principles: serve citizens, not customers; seek the public interest; value citizenship and public service above entrepreneurship; think strategically, act democratically; recognize that accountability isn't simple; serve, rather than steer; and value people, not just productivity. The book asks us to think carefully and critically about what public service is, why it is important, and what values ought to guide what we do and how we do it. It celebrates what is distinctive, important and meaningful about public service and considers how we might better live up to those ideals and values. All students and serious practitioners in public administration and public policy should read this book. While debates about public policy issues will surely continue, this compact, clearly written volume provides an important framework for public service based on and fully integrated with citizen discourse and the public interest.

Gines de Rus incorporates the latest thinking on issues such as the treatment of risk and uncertainty, and the importance of institutional arrangements in ensuring the correct use of the technique. These issues are blended seamlessly into the relevant case studies, rather than treated as optional extras, as in some texts. The case studies themselves are at the centre of current debate and controversy, including the need for high-speed rail lines and the case for the privatization of water supply.Introduction to Cost-Benefit Analysis is intended as a graduate and advanced undergraduate textbook. Nevertheless, economists and other practitioners involved in the economic evaluation of projects will also find the book extremely useful.

Understanding the effects of radical change on public personnel systems is critically important both now and in the future to all those interested in the quality of American democracy. Civil service reform is occurring at all levels of government both in the United States and abroad.

American Public Service: Radical Reform and the Merit System is a collection of papers that examine the innovations, strategies, and issues found in the contemporary civil service reform debate. Offering diverse perspectives from expert contributors, this book presents matters concerning radical reform and the merit system at the federal, state, and local levels of government.

This volume offers fresh insight into the effects of merit system changes on employees. Divided into four sections, this book...

- Examines a portrait of contemporary reforms from across the country and concepts to interpret those data

- Addresses whether the relaxation of civil service protections against partisan intrusion will result in corruption

- Provides examples of ongoing changes and analyzes survey data from state managers

- Discusses a variety of key issues, such as the impact on racial inequality of moving from a protected class employment status to an unprotected at-will relationship

The book provides a baseline of data on reforms as well as an account of their current promises and pitfalls. Covering topics ripped from the headlines, this text also identifies pressing issues and makes suggestions for the future. Offering a variety of methodological approaches, it is ideal for all those interested in effective governance.

This series presents selected research papers dealing with important methodological and theoretical issues in the policy sciences, with research in policy-related disciplines, and applied research on issues in public policy analysis and public management.

Niall Sinclair, a well-known official in the Canadian Government and in Knowledge Management, presents an innovative way to circumvent the inflexibility of government bureaucracy to drive successful knowledge management initiatives in the public sector. Sinclair proposes a technique that has been proven to work in his own governmental area of 20,000 employees that enables executives and professionals, especially those in government and public institutions, to implement KM programs successfully and circumvent KM critics.

Health care in the United States at the end of the 20th century occupies a completely different place in the economy, in the public consciousness, and in its impact on government, than it did at the beginning of the century, or even in the early years of the Clinton Administration. Health care is now a multi-billion dollar industry; one that consumes more than 15 percent of the nation's GNP. Citizens now regard health care as essential to the quality of their lives, and a steady stream of new medications and procedures point to ways to extend the lives of our aging population and restore those injured on or off the job. At the same time, the changing patterns of health care have stirred a national debate over the growth of managed care and the role that government can play in providing solid health care standards--a medical safety net--within tightening budgetary restraints. This book explores the role of the federal government in health care policy development from the years of the Founding Fathers to the present.

Kronenfeld reviews the key features of the American health care system, its infrastructure, and federal legislative process and outcomes in the health care arena. The current situation in health care is examined, with particular attention given to the attempt at major reform in the first Clinton administration, and to the modest changes that were ultimately passed. She closes with an examination of the future of health care and the role of government, emphasizing how current health care issues and concerns may set the stage for a changed federal role in funding and delivery of health care services in the next century. This comprehensive examination of the role of government in the health care system will be of great interest to students and researchers of public policy and the social aspects of American health care.

This collection provides a critical and international analysis of the public sector through theoretical debates, empirical issues and regional studies. It begins by reassessing the public choice theoretical paradigm, the implications of New Public Management, the current crisis of democracy and ways of mediating market pressures. It then investigates recent developments in ethics, service provision, industrial relations and the nature of work, before examining critical issues in countries and regions from both the developed and developing world, and reflecting on the way forward.