Category Archives: Public Administration

Localism: ‘It’s like letting go of your toddler’s bike’ says Mandarin

Posted on February 23, 2012 by

Dame Helen Ghosh DCB is, I’m sure, a very fine civil servant in may ways, but sensitive to others perspectives she’s clearly not. Speaking at the NAO Conference on Performance yesterday (22 Feb 2012) Dame Helen was explaining how the … Continue reading →

Posted in Public Administration, Whitehall | Leave a comment

Lies, Damned Lies, and Government ‘Efficiency’ Savings (Again)

Posted on February 17, 2012 by

It is nice to see that the new lot are just the same as the old lot, at least when it comes to reporting so-called “efficiency” or “waste” savings. Today Cabinet Office Minister Francis Maude was telling anyone who would … Continue reading →

Posted in Performance, Public Administration, Spending, Whitehall | Leave a comment

The Work Programme: individual versus systemic outcomes

Posted on February 8, 2012 by

The government is very proud of its Work Programme. It is especially proud of the fact that the WPs private sector providers are only paid on the basis of individual outcomes – do the participants get a “long term” job.

Posted in Public Administration, Spending, Whitehall | 2 Comments

Implement That

Posted on January 20, 2012 by

Watch out for the word “implementation” in 2012. It’s the new in-word in Whitehall.

Posted in Politics, Public Management, Whitehall, Public Administration | 1 Comment

Leadership in the Civil Service: Those that Can, Do Policy. Those That Can’t…..

Posted on January 20, 2012 by

Today (20 Jan 2012) the Public Administration Select Committee (PASC) published a scathing attack on the re-organisation at the top of the Civil Service that took place over Christmas.

Posted in Whitehall, Public Administration | 2 Comments

My Top Ten (most read) WhitehallWatch posts of 2011 (so far)

Posted on December 22, 2011 by
Posted in International, Performance, Political Economy, Politics, Public Administration, Public Management, Spending, Whitehall | Leave a comment

Academy Schools Funding System Fails – quelle surprise

Posted on December 8, 2011 by

I have been predicting for some time that some of the big structural changes to public services are likely to destabilise the financial systems in health, education and local government. So it comes as no surprise that tens of millions … Continue reading →

Posted in Public Administration, Public Management, Spending, Whitehall | Leave a comment

Greek Deficit and Tax Evasion

Posted on November 10, 2011 by

One issue that keeps coming up around the Greek crisis is the degree of tax evasion. In the slide below I report the average Greek budget deficit per year on a decade by decade basis since the 1960s (figures on … Continue reading →

Posted in International, Political Economy, Politics, Public Administration, Spending | 2 Comments

My Big Fat Greek Government?

Posted on November 7, 2011 by

The Greek crisis has given neo-liberals a a great opportunity to criticize ‘big government’ Hellenic style – they see the problem as a Big Fat Greek Government (apologies to the film of nearly that name). But as usual the truth … Continue reading →

Posted in International, Politics, Public Administration, Public Management, Spending | 2 Comments

The ‘Managerial Revolution’ is Over: They Won?

Posted on October 28, 2011 by

“Income Data Services, which totted up pay, bonuses and various share awards, says the average FTSE 100 executive director pocketed a 49 per cent rise in the last financial year to bring their remuneration to £2.7m a year. Chief executives … Continue reading →

Posted in International, Political Economy, Public Administration, Public Management | 2 Comments