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International Comparisons of Public Sector Performance

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  • Steven Van de Walle

Abstract

Measuring and comparing the overall performance of countries' public sectors requires agreement on definitions and objectives of government. I argue that such an agreement is about finding a consensus rather than about finding better definitions. Measuring government requires a number of leaps of faith , where certain definitions, assumptions and statistics are accepted as good enough for measurement and comparison. The political science and economic research community have a different tradition of dealing with such agreements and leaps of faith, and this is reflected in their approaches to measuring and comparing the performance of public sectors. The implications of these traditions are particularly visible in the usefulness of measurement and indicators for policy makers.

Suggested Citation

  • Steven Van de Walle, 2009. "International Comparisons of Public Sector Performance," Public Management Review, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 11(1), pages 39-56, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:pubmgr:v:11:y:2009:i:1:p:39-56
    DOI: 10.1080/14719030802493254
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Heinz Handler & Bertrand Koebel & Philipp Reiss & Margit Schratzenstaller, 2005. "The size and performance of public sector activities in Europe," Public Economics 0507011, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    2. António Afonso & Ludger Schuknecht & Vito Tanzi, 2005. "Public sector efficiency: An international comparison," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 123(3), pages 321-347, June.
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    Cited by:

    1. Graeme A. Hodge, 2010. "Reviewing Public–Private Partnerships: Some Thoughts on Evaluation," Chapters, in: Graeme A. Hodge & Carsten Greve & Anthony E. Boardman (ed.), International Handbook on Public–Private Partnerships, chapter 5, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    2. Graeme A. Hodge, 2013. "Rethinking the state through the lens of regulatory governance," Chapters, in: John Farrar & David G. Mayes (ed.), Globalisation, the Global Financial Crisis and the State, chapter 9, pages 197-217, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    3. David Hulme & Antonio Savoia & Kunal Sen, 2015. "Governance as a Global Development Goal? Setting, Measuring and Monitoring the Post-2015 Development Agenda," Global Policy, London School of Economics and Political Science, vol. 6(2), pages 85-96, May.
    4. Hodge, Graeme & McCallum, Tara, 2017. "Public innovation: An Australian regulatory case study," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 49(C), pages 20-29.
    5. Antonio Savoia & Kunal Sen, 2015. "Measurement, Evolution, Determinants, And Consequences Of State Capacity: A Review Of Recent Research," Journal of Economic Surveys, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(3), pages 441-458, July.

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