The Case for Bureaucracy: A Public Administration PolemicThis volume argues that American public servants and administrative institutions are among the best in the world. Contrary to popular stereotypes, they are neither sources of great waste nor a threat to liberty, but social assets of critical value to a functioning democracy. In presenting his case, the author touches on core aspects of public administration while drawing on recent events to bring case material and empirical evidence up to date. This text provides data on public perceptions of bureaucracy, information on the delegation of policy implementation to contractors and nonprofits, statistics regarding quality-of-life improvements in American society, profiles of real bureaucrats -- and citizen interaction with them -- intended to give bureaucracy a human face, material on bureaucratic contributions to the political system that go beyond implementing policy, an analysis of current reform proposals focused on market competition and business management practices, and the author's proposals for ways to improve bureaucracy. |
Contents
BUREAUCRACY DESPISED AND DISPARAGED | 1 |
THE WATER GLASS VIEWED DIFFERENTLY | 19 |
SOME SUSPICIONS SOME SURPRISES | 38 |
Copyright | |
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academic achieve activities agencies American areas asked Association authority become budget bureau bureaucracy chapter Charles Chicago citizens civil clients collection Commission compared critics Department effects employ employees employment evaluation example executives exist expected experience fact favorable federal field force groups important individual institutions interest John Journal kind least less levels means measures ment Michigan Moreover myth nature noted numbers operating organizations percent performance personnel political position Post Postal presented President Press problems productivity programs Public Administration Public Administration Review public bureaucracy question Reagan reason regard relatively reports respect response Robert rules Science sector Service Social society survey TABLE theories tion United University Urban values Washington welfare White York