Holding "Governance" Accountable: Third-Party Government in a Limited State

In: The independent review: journal of political economy, Band 11, Heft 1, S. 67-77

Abstract

Governance is becoming a more appropriate term than government to explain what is happening with the outsourcing of public services to for-profit, nonprofit, & faith-based organizations. This is not privatization, but 'government by proxy'. For a number of reasons -- including expertise, flexibility, & efficiency -- government is choosing surrogates to perform some of its public services. This does not mean, however, that the surrogate takes on the task of accountability. That still belongs to government, which directs & pays for those services. It is suggested here that policymakers & public managers need to think long & hard before they accept this 'third-party government' system to make sure they understand all its implications -- not only for public administration but also for the idea of a 'limited state'. Public administration is rooted in constitutional values, including responsibility & accountability for its services no matter who actually delivers them. References. J. Stanton