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Rational choice theory
New public management theory
New public management theory
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The essay is structured as follows. First, I discuss the role of public administration to serve society while adhering to legislators in more detail. I continue with a consideration of morals and personal philosophies and how this can greatly affect public administrators. I further support my arguments through the integration of selected readings. Additionally, I provide a stronger interpretation of the readings by accepting or refusing the conclusions of the authors. Next, I propose the respective arguments and supporting evidence leading to my conclusion. Lastly, I elaborate on the conclusion while distinguishing the restraints and qualifications of my research. Public administration plays a large factor in modern governance through …show more content…
The idea that selfishness pushes policy forward is derived from a rational choice framework of public administration. Rational choice theory explains how an individual’s, including government officials, main drive is defined through his or her own self-determinations. However, this framework of public administration continues to elaborate how public goods were established as responses to the self-interests of each individual that makes up society as a whole, which leads to the concept of John Locke’s social contract. Additionally, government’s duty is to alleviate natural market failures like externalities from business placed on the general public. (Dye, 2002) Moreover, it can be argued that the selfishness demonstrated through the rational choice theory is drives public officials to act in a particular manner, accordingly, personal opinions and interests will remain evident in public …show more content…
The platonic tradition of public service, as described by Lewis, is to serve society solely without regards to outside influence including their own self-interests or financial incentives. Lewis defines political judgment as, “…to spot a private interest masquerading as a public good” (p. 527). With this, the interference of business on government can have a large impact with corporations pushing policy in a certain course. Thus, it can be argued that the consideration of business in public administration is important in understanding outside motives to governmental actions. Business’s lobbying in the White House is an example of business influence on policy formation. If incentives are provided, government will sway in a particular direction. Furthermore, the concept of a two party political system demonstrates how personal interests and moral codes are embedded in the political system. Although, there are benefits to hold government and public administration to impartial standards officials may become less responsive to their duties with no shared drives to cooperate. One’s own personal morals and interests can act as instigators to produce results in public service. These individual motivations should not be punished but valued within in an environment. This further demonstrates the necessity for diversity in order to
in lobbying policy makers, the role of business in financing elections, and messages favorable to
...se to over arching political leaders and policies that claim to act in the best interest of all, yet are in reality only in place to serve the self interest of a few.
First, consider the Elected Official Safety Act. One can argue against it, chastising and criticizing it by vitriolic attacks on its validity, especially based on how it was stated. However, as this opinion will show, those attacks a...
Kenneth Ashworth, a public servant, has served Texas and its fine education for more than thirty years and knows all the ins and outs of how the government works. He has written his book to benefit his niece, who has decided to follow in his footsteps, of all of his dealings from problematic politicians to many life lessons that have shaped him. Intended for his niece, this book has opened the minds for not only me and my peers, but for students around the state. After reading Caught between the Dog and the Fireplug, or How to Survive Public Service, Kenneth Ashworth makes a truthful point of knowing what the differences of personal responsibility and social responsibility is as a bureaucrat. Ashworth shows that social and personal responsibility can be two of the same if the morals of the person acting upon them are in good conscious.
The objective of this paper is to provide insight into Rational Choice Theory. This theory, highly relied upon by many disciplines, is also used to calculate and determine crime and criminal behavior. Through definition, example and techniques utilized by criminologists, the reader will have a better understanding of the subject.
According to one of rational choice theory’s prominent and more thoughtful contemporary exponents, Peter C. Ordeshook, “four books mark the beginning of modern political theory: Anthony Downs’s An Economic Theory of Democracy (1957), Duncan Black’s Theory of Committees and Elections (1958), William H. Riker’s A Theory of Political Coalitions (1962), and James Buchanan and Gordon Tullock’s The Calculus of Consent (1962). These volumes, along with Kenneth Arrow’s Social Choice and Individual Values (1951), began such a wealth of research that political scientists today have difficulty digesting and synthesizing all but small parts of it. Consequently, the full value of this research often goes unrealized…” (Ordeshook 1986, ix)
Woodrow Wilson’s purpose in writing “The Study of Administration” is to bring awareness that the government systems in place need to be re-evaluated and improved. Wilson encourages we need to examine the history of administration set forth by others in determining certain needs to be accomplished in effective ways and methods. Wilson’s desirable outcomes for research within the public administration field are for government systems to become more productive and organized.
The issue of diversity in the public sector goes beyond noticeably visible differences, and expands to areas such as culture and population changes. Public leaders manage diversity not only to meet legal obligations, but as a method to improve governance, decision making, efficiency and performance. The role of diversity in public administration is to aid leaders in providing equal opportunities to all employees and stakeholders with in the public sector. Demographic changes are inevitable therefore public agencies can benefit from implementing a diverse workforce by drawing on talent from the widest possible pool. Likewise, by placing diversity at the forefront of policy making, public leaders can attract a diverse array of stakeholders.
As, Goodnow has iterated the functions of politics communicate and addresses the state’s will however, he articulates that there is no boundaries or limitations to one or more authorities when managing politics, thus eluding to no appointed organization who handles political matters and the interest of the people. Perhaps, a contributing factor to complexities in the political and government systems and the functional roles of politics and administration. Woodrow Wilson essay “The Study of Administration,” he stresses that government systems and methods are in need of great improvement. (Woodrow. 1887) However, Wilson believes politics should be separated from administration, for administration should be a “field of business.” (Woodrow. 1887) Possibly speaking, if administration was separated would politics become more organized and an authority given to
The practice of nepotism is said to be inconsistent in instances that require impartial decision-making and attempts to ensure that private interest or personal benefit does not override the public’s interest. In addition, nepotism creates situations that appear of improper influence or favor. As such, anti-nepotism policies have been written to protect public organizations from adverse lawsuits. There are many discriminatory clauses of anti-nepotism policies, as they pertain to individual lifestyle and privacy.
In the future I would like to see myself, as a continuously promoted public official who could possibly become a pro-active politician in today’s demanding political arena. To achieve this, I would like to gain more knowledge which can help me reach intellectual maturity to the latest practices adopted in the field of Public Administration. My desire for self-development in this area and curiosity to learn past and contemporary developments in different societies will help me to solve the problems easily.
...r pillars of public administration are equally important in the process of public administration and complement one another in the provision of quality public service. When public administrators have economy in mind they focus on the best combination of available resources to provide optimum public service. To ensure that public service is not limited to only a section of the public, the issue of equity is taken into consideration so that public interest is realized. Efficiency and effectiveness additionally go hand in hand in ensuring that allocated resources are used in the best possible manner to attain set goals. Thus whereas the first three public administration pillars – Economy, efficiency and effectiveness are concerned with how public service is provided the fourth and most recent addition (Equity) concerns with for whom public service is provided.
This essay discusses the radical transformation of the principles and foundations of public administration from traditional to New Public Management. Firstly the essay will attempt to define the key terms of traditional public administration and the doctrine of New Public Management. Rabin J. (2003) explains that New Public Management embodies “a process in public administration that uses information and experiences obtained in business management and other disciplines to improve efficiency, usefulness and general operation of public services in contemporary bureaucracies.“Traditional Public Administration progresses from governmental contributions, with services perceived by the bureaucracy.
The difference between ethics and morals, between unethical conduct and immoral behavior, is significant with regards to the actions of elected officials. Elected officials should be obliged to live with ethical conduct but necessary moral behavior. Obligating elected officials to live ethically exemplary lives with regards to their profession is appropriate because the officials are elected into their government positions by the nation's or region's citizens. Those denizens expect their officials to abide by the region's own ethics, by “well-founded standards of right and wrong that prescribe what humans ough...
...ot function properly. Politics and administration should be seen as very interconnected. It is worth reiterating just as the structure of governments has changed over the years, the structure and role of public administration have also changes dramatically. Furthermore, it is important to state that public administration has grown from its traditional role of merely implementing policies adopted by the “political” branches of government to playing very significant role in the formation of public policies. This is definitely more evident in regards to professional expertise bureaucratic officials provide during problem identification, agenda setting, policy formulation, and evaluation that shape the content of public policy today. Overall, the idea that Wilson has proposed gives an accurate idea of what the relationship should be between politics and administration.