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Comparative Public Sector Reform – Balancing Political Control and Institutional Autonomy Professor Tom Christensen Depa

Comparative Public Sector Reform – Balancing Political Control and Institutional Autonomy Professor Tom Christensen Department of Political Science University of Oslo Presentation at ‘Governance Education Network International’ Conference on Governance, Sustainable Growth, Peace and Equity

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Comparative Public Sector Reform – Balancing Political Control and Institutional Autonomy Professor Tom Christensen Depa

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  1. Comparative Public Sector Reform – Balancing Political Control and Institutional Autonomy Professor Tom Christensen Department of Political Science University of Oslo Presentation at ‘Governance Education Network International’ Conference on Governance, Sustainable Growth, Peace and Equity 13-15 December, 2009, Serena, Islamabad

  2. 1. Main questions • What are some of the main reform trends in the public sector the last decades? • How do New Public Management and post-NPM balance political control and autonomy? • What are the effects on the relationship between central actors in public decisions?

  3. 2. New Public Management • Strong emphasis on efficiency • Main instruments: • Structural devolution and horizontal specialization – fragmentation • Use of market mechanisms and privatization • But also focus on user-orientation

  4. NPM has inconsistent view of the role of central political and administrative actors: • On the one hand – subordinate leaders and levels should have more autonomy and influence • On the other – central leaders should control more, through different scrutiny instruments • Overall, NPM put relative more emphasis on autonomy than control

  5. 3. What are some of the effects of NPM? • Central political leaders have lost control • Administrative leaders and leaders of public commercial units have gained influence • More problems of coordination as a result of structural fragmentation • Problems on delivering on increased efficiency

  6. 4. Why the need for post-NPM reforms? • The fear factor – terrorism, pandemics, global environmental problems, financial recession • Political leaders don’t like to loose control and capacity to handle societal problems • Negative effects of NPM, for example less quality of services and more social inequality

  7. 5. What is typical for post-NPM? • Structural reintegration – making central leaders stronger: • More control of agencies and SOEs • Cross-sectoral mergers and collaboration • More emphasis on cultural integration and a collective view • Value-based management

  8. 6. Political control and autonomy revisited • Actual public structures and cultures in many countries are typically hybrid • Elements of NPM and post-NPM are combined • This gives possible flexibility and catering to many interests • But also potential confusion and ambiguity

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