Public Administration
What is Public Administration?
The development, implementation, and management of public policy.
Alternative Theories of Bureaucracy
1. Allison: bargaining model
2. James + Seidman: bureaucratic incentives
3. O'Toole: networking bureaucracy
4. Long: representative bureaucracy
They seek to explain the policymaking rule of administration and bureaucracy.
What are some differences between New public management and new public governance?
NPM focuses on privatization and treats citizens as "clients", emphasis on efficiency.
NPG focuses on government cooperation within public and private sector, emphasis on shared decision making over competition.
Case study: Deliverology
a method to improve government performance by focusing on measurable results. Ensure government priorities are delivered effectively using data and progress tracking. Pros: Increases accountability and focus on outcomes. Cons: oversimplifies complex issues and prioritizes numbers over real impact.
It's the basis of the government and plays vital role in the life of people
Instrumental in executing laws and policies
Stabilizing force in society.
Case study: Harper and "muzzling" public servants
Under Harper's government, critics accused his administration of restricting scientists ability to speak publicly. this was seen undermining neutrality and openness of Canada's public servic
GoC directed money to advertising firms in QC to promote canada and federal goovt within QC, however $300m was mishandled and only $100m was redirected back to Liberal party of Canada. Required collaboration from public servants to pull off, Chuck Guite was responsible.
Policy Cycle
A model of how policy making might work.
1. agenda setting
2. policy formulation
3. decision making
3. implementation
5. policy evaluation
Compare the private and public sector, give 5 reasons.
1. temporal (shorter timelines)
2. public sector faces more contradictory ends by government
3. human resources (harder to fire someone in public sector due to merit principle)
4. private sector has fewer requirements compared to public, is more focused about efficiency and competitiveness
5. public sector is open to more scrutiny from the public
Agencies, boards, and commissions (ABCs)
They are separately legally from a ministry, core staff are public servants, and they deliver public servants. they are consistently accountable and are "business-like"
they develop policies, regulations and adjudicate claims, monitor Economic/Social sector.
Performance Analysis (Doberstein 2022) and agencification
Draws on public sector employee survey to measure differences of work life in agencies vs. departments, results show less innovation autonomy in agencies. however, more organization in agencies.
agencification concerns include missing accountability and oversight, blaming avoidance when things go wrong
Case study: Carbon Pricing
Issue is too much GHG emissions by consumers, we want to figure out best way to counter that. A carbon tax is introduced, based on theory of internalizing externalities with carbon use.
What is the Civil Service? What are some other ways of referring to it?
The public service, bureaucracy. they are a permanent body of the government that help carry out tasks related to public administration such as implementing laws, deliver public services. they are non-partisan
Tribunals vs. Courts
Tribunals are quasi-judicial, limited jurisdiction, but deep expertise, can improve justice
Courts have more jurisdiction and legal authority.
Most likely areas of politicization
What is "policy advice"?
research, data analysis, proposal development, consultation, evaluation
Machinery of Government
The set of organizations that comprise the civil service, as well as functions assigned to them, and structures + processes that link them.
Includes: Central Agencies, Crown corporations, Line departments
Corporatization & Privatization
Corporatization is turning a government service into a state owned corporation that operates business like but remains publicly owned. Greater autonomy, self-financing.
Privatization transfers ownership to a single individual. Both aim to increase efficiency but privatization obsoletes government control.
Case study: SNC Lavalin Prosecution
involved allegations that the Canadian engineering firm bribed Libyan officials to secure contracts. In 2019, controversy arose when the PM's Office was accused of pressuring the Attorney General to offer the company a (DPA) instead of criminal charges. The scandal raised concerns about political interference in the justice system, leading to resignations, and public debate over the rule of law and corporate accountability.
Deregulation
regulation aimed at preventing monopolies and addressing market failure, however gov can't keep up with innovation, so reduction of state-imposed constraints is placed.