New directions for public service reform in developing countries

Abstract

Summary This paper argues that recent developments in practice and theory provide a more promising basis for public service reform in developing countries than we have had since at least the turn of the century. There have been significant instances of large‐scale reform success, such as Nepal's Public Service Commission and Malaysia's delivery unit, Pemandu, and also “pockets of effectiveness” in individual agencies in many countries. They contribute to a more fruitful and diverse repertoire of reform approaches than generally realized. Policymakers can draw on all those instances and types of reform, together with relevant rich country experiences, as they improvise and tailor responses to their always unique reform problems. Proceeding in this way helps reformers to expand the “reform space” available within the political economy. Donors can help reformers if they facilitate reform in the spirit of the Busan Partnership rather than impose their preferred models. In short, the new direction which this paper identifies can be stated as creative problem solving by local actors facilitated by sympathetic donors, building on examples of reform success and drawing on a repertoire of poor and rich country reform approaches.

Combatting corruption in Kazakhstan: A role for ethics commissioners?

“…Hence, rather than relying on a global normative model, synonymous with the “Washington consensus” and informed by the principles of public management, public sector reforms need to be located in, and owned by, individual countries' political and institutional governance (Batley, ; Williamson, ). There has been a tangible shift from one of pessimisms that many reform initiatives in developing countries fail, to more optimistic suggestions including moves to problem solving approaches and the expansion of “reform space” (Fritz, Levy, & Ort, ; McCourt, and Nunberg, ).…”

Searching for ‘pockets of effectiveness’ in weak governance states: Preliminary examination of the securities and exchange commission of Myanmar

“…In light of this, some scholars have considered situations in developing nations wherein governmental organizations have performed well despite contextual challenges. Leonard (, ) and others (Roll, ; Kuwajima, ; McCourt, ) have argued that focusing solely on national level institution building and outcomes may obscure progress that takes place ‘within’ public organizations. They suggest that ‘pockets of effectiveness’ should be given more attention to assess institution building.…”

“…More specific to the work of the SECM, among the WGI indicators Myanmar ranks on the 31.7 percentile for regulatory quality. The current study seeks to consider whether the SECM stands apart from this picture of poor institutional performance as a ‘pocket of effectiveness’ (POE) among Myanmar's governmental entities (Kuwajima, ; Leonard, , ; McCourt, ; Roll, ).…”

“…The approach utilised in this study reflects a search for a POE in institutional building in developing countries (Kuwajima, ; Leonard, , ; McCourt, ; Roll, ). According to Roll (, p. 22), POEs are

…effective public organizations in environments in which almost all other public organizations do not perform well at all.

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What is wrong with job security?

“…In addition, more insight into what motivates individuals in developing settings to seek public sector employment and perform well is needed, as externally enforced “one‐size‐fits‐all” reforms rarely succeed due to insufficient awareness of local particularities and path dependencies (Andrews, ; McCourt, ; Repucci, ). It is important to understand whether in non‐Western contexts PSM plays the role of the primary motivator or if there are other incentives at play and whether these coexist with or compromise PSM.…”