Bureaucratic reform and issues of political responsiveness

Abstract

Many of the concepts and techniques associated with contemporary bureaucratic reform are filled with implications for political responsiveness. Being entrepreneurial may result in savings but reduce political responsiveness. Service to customers is specific responsiveness while service to all of the citizens is general responsiveness. Performance reviews and entrepreneurial budgeting may strengthen bureaucracy and elected executives, but will also probably weaken political responsiveness. Managing and budgeting systems that frame policy alternatives and draw the citizens and their political leaders into comprehensive policy-making are preferable to the concepts and techniques of bureaucratic reform as reinventing government.