Public choice: "Yes Minister" made it popular, but does winning the Nobel Prize make it true?
Article Abstract:
This paper discusses the influence and validity of public choice economics, which uses the traditional methodology of self-interested utility-maximizing rational choice to explain the behaviour of voters, politicians and bureaucrats. Public choice authors view the democratic political system pessimistically, fearing that politicians, interest groups and bureaucrats will collude to expand government activity, which will benefit these three groups but harm the public at large. Thus, public choice writers are supporters of the conservative agenda of balanced budgets and reduced government spending. The article shows how the successful British television series "Yes Minister" draws much of its inspiration from the public choice model and how this is reflected in the behaviour of the key characters in the series. It is argued that the series has been effective at popularizing the model. Finally, the article critically reviews the recent Canadian public choice literature, and finds that it uses the marginal voter hypothesis tautologically, that many tests of the validity of the public choice model have been methodologically sloppy, and that public choice writers could have profited from an interview methodology in attempting to explain public policy outcomes. (Reprinted by permission of the publisher.)
Publication Name: Canadian Public Administration
Subject: Government
ISSN: 0008-4840
Year: 1988
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Management of the public sector in Japan: Are there lessons to be learned?
Article Abstract:
The objective of this review of Japanese public management is to assess the potential of Canadian adoption of specific management techniques and to stimulate further research in public sector management. Topics discussed include: workplace environment and career development of senior public servants; labor relations in the public sector; mechanisms to control government growth and spending; and problems and solutions regarding interdepartmental coordination. It would be difficult for Canada to adopt practices that reflect important elements of Japanese culture, such as gaining consensus through consultation, bottom-up decision-making procedures, and lifetime employment for the most qualified workers. However, the idea of keeping government small and uncomplicated could be achieved in Canada through the rebirth of strong, stable departments, greater limits on spending, and more thorough evaluation of policies.
Publication Name: Canadian Public Administration
Subject: Government
ISSN: 0008-4840
Year: 1986
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Simulation, the case method, and case studies: their role in public management teaching and research
Article Abstract:
The purpose of this paper is to expound the virtues of the case method, thereby conferring upon it the academic respectability it merits, but has not received. To do this, the paper discusses the use of simulations, cases and case studies in public management teaching and research. It is now important that public management training include a wide variety of skills, which can best be taught by simulation. Role-playing simulation and the Harvard case method are both discussed as specific types of simulations. The author's experience with two IPAC cases is presented to show how cases and simulations can be used in the classroom. Finally, the case study approach to research is discussed in terms of comparative case methodology, and the use of Bayesian, or experience-based, statistics, as a way of testing hypotheses formulated in comparative case studies. (Reprinted by permission of the publisher.)
Publication Name: Canadian Public Administration
Subject: Government
ISSN: 0008-4840
Year: 1990
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