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The Politics of Public Services: A Service Characteristics Approach

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  • Batley, Richard
  • Mcloughlin, Claire

Abstract

Politics is widely regarded as affecting and being affected by the performance of public services, yet little research differentiates between services in exploring these effects. The article addresses this gap by proposing a framework for understanding and comparing the politics of different services. It identifies how the nature of the good, type of market failure, tasks involved in delivery, and demand for a service—hitherto regarded largely as economic and managerial concerns—affect political commitment, organizational control, and user power. Policy responses can be targeted to address service characteristics where they present opportunities or constraints to better services.

Suggested Citation

  • Batley, Richard & Mcloughlin, Claire, 2015. "The Politics of Public Services: A Service Characteristics Approach," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 74(C), pages 275-285.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:wdevel:v:74:y:2015:i:c:p:275-285
    DOI: 10.1016/j.worlddev.2015.05.018
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    12. Niheer Dasandi & Edward Laws & Heather Marquette & Mark Robinson, 2019. "What does the evidence tell us about 'thinking and working politically' in development assistance?," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2019-12, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
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    14. Schulz, Nicolai, 2020. "The politics of export restrictions: a panel data analysis of African commodity processing industries," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 103779, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    15. Dewachter, Sara & Holvoet, Nathalie & Kuppens, Miet & Molenaers, Nadia, 2018. "Beyond the Short versus Long Accountability Route Dichotomy: Using Multi-track Accountability Pathways to Study Performance of Rural Water Services in Uganda," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 102(C), pages 158-169.
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