Public Policy Analysis and Administration - lecture 5

Why does the state exists?

It regulates the way in which the economy works

Ir promotes social harmony and ensures the well being of its citizens

Karl Polanyi, the paradox of the state

The state is essential for ensuring the proper functioning of markets by establishing a legal framework and regulating economic activities. At the same time, it is necessary to mitigate the harmful effect of markets

What do neoliberals advocate for?

Free and regulated markets, claimed to be more efficient at allocating resources, stimulating economic growth and fostering innovation

What are the elements of neoliberalism?

• Liberalisation: opening of national markets to global markets

• Privatisation: public owned enterprises and services are transferred to the private sector

• Deregulation: government regulations on businesses are reduced or eliminated

What is NPM?

New Public Management (NPM) has been one of the key initiatives that have reshaped public administration by integrating private-sector methods while è maintaining governmental oversight by introducing principles such as operational efficiency and accountability

What is public administration?

It is the organisational structure and civil servants who implement the policies and decisions made by political leaders.

It is responsible for the daily execution of government operations, the management of public resources and the delivery of public services to citizens.

What is political authority?

It is the power and influence held by elected political leaders who possess the poor to make political decisions formulated public policies and represent citizens within the government.

It derives from the legitimate mechanisms of appointment

What aer the characteristics of weberian bureaucracy?

• Hierarchy and organised structure

• Division of labor

• Rules and defined procedure

• Impersonality

• Enormity-based pay system

• Career logic

• Specialisation and expertise

What is an administrative tradition?

It refers to the historical, cultural and institutional frameworks that shape how public administration operates in a specific country or region

What are the key features of administrative traditions?

• Rooted in long-standing historical and legal foundations

• Influences the structure, behaviour and decision-making processes of bureaucracies

• Reflects the values, norms and priorities of the society it serves

Which are the main administrative traditions?

What is Public Choice Thery?

It is an economic approach that focuses on the role of the state and the political behaviour of various actors.

It argues that the government is composed of individuals, including civil servants, who seek to serve not only the public interest but also their personal interests

What are the main criticism towards bureaucracy?

• Exponential growth

• Ineffectiveness and slowness

• Increasing demands for accountability

• Impact of technology and globalisation

• Economic challenges

• Theoretical critiques

What are the main effects of NPM reforms?

• Strengthening of the political over the administration

• New relationship between control-oriented bureaucracies and professional groups

• Introduction of market and competition mechanisms

• Challenges to institutional protections and employment flexibility

What is the NPG?

The collaborative model of New Public Governance puts the state at the heart of solutions and strategies to build a more sustainable and equitable future

What are the main differences between the bureaucratic model, the managerial model and the collaborative model?

What are the features of the neo-weberian state?

• Weberian principles retained: rule of law, professional bureaucracy, state authority

• Modern adaptation: citizen engagement (NPG) and service oriented (NPM)

• Strategic role of the state: combines long-term policy planning with the modernisation of institutions and leverages technology to improve efficiency and transparency

• Balanced approach: rejects full market logic (NPG), balances state-driven governance with efficient service delivery (NPM) and emphasises democratic oversight, transparency and participatory governance (NPG)