Book News, PublicNet: 29 July, 1999
Maor M, Jones G W
The International Journal of Public Sector Management, (UK), 1999 Vol 12 No 1. Start page: 49. No of pages: 14
Assesses the influence of the new public management paradigm on the convergence process within the organizations of public administration, its practices and the role perceptions of senior civil servants within the European Union. Discusses the concept of convergence at across- and within-systems, observing similarities and differences among administrative systems over policies. Asserts that the challenge of new public management is making the public sector less distinctive as a unit from the private sector, and reducing the extent to which discretionary power is limited by uniform and general rules of procedures. Suggests that, although there is no EU policy to harmonize administrative systems, the European Commission is encouraging similar administrative responses through its KARLUS ‘exchange of officials’ programme. Concludes that while the impact of new public management may be producing more of a convergence between EU administration systems, there is no clear trend towards a common destination.
Read more on VARIETIES OF ADMINISTRATIVE CONVERGENCE…