week 10: service delivery alts Flashcards
What is accountability in representative democracies?
those holding government power are answerable and responsive to the people for how that power is used
5 different types of accountability in the public sector?
political accountability
legal accountability
admin
financial
professional
political accountability
Accountability to the public, primarily exercised through elections and public scrutiny
legal accountability
Accountability to the law,
enforced through judicial review, conflict of interest laws, and other legal mechanisms
administrative accountability
Accountability to politicians and superiors
through administrative reviews, rules, and directives to maintain bureaucratic responsivenes
financial accountability
Accountability to the legislature regarding the use of public funds
involving parliamentary budget approvals, reviews of financial statements, and ensuring spending compliance
professional accountability
Accountability to professional norms and values
upheld through disciplinary actions, whistleblower protections, and promoting ethical conduct
What are the three distinct concepts in Johnson’s Synthetic Approach to accountability?
political
legal
social responsiveness
political responsiveness
most visible form of accountability, focusing on ministerial responsibility, elections, and public scrutiny of elected officials
legal responsiveness
Emphasizes adherence to the rule of law, judicial review, and conflict of interest laws to prevent the misuse of power and fair decision making
social responsiveness
broad concept focused on ensuring that government actions serve societal goals and the public interest,
promoting ethical conduct and responsiveness among public servants
accountability involves a …
principal-agent relationship
principal assigns…
responsibility and resources to an agent
agent …
carries out tasks
What is alternative service delivery (ASD)?
any service delivery method not carried out solely by a single government department.
ASD involves …
partnerships with other levels of gov to improve service effeiceny and effectiveness
What are some examples of service delivery options within ASD?
crown agencies
crown corps
partnerships
contracting out
franchising and licensing
privatization
crown agencies
particularly regulatory agencies, which operate at arm’s length from government to enforce regulations and make expert-based decisions
crown agencies ex
CN rail
crown corporation
government-owned entities that operate commercially with a public policy mandate,
crown corp ex
lcbo
partnership
public-public partnerships between government entities, public-private partnerships (P3s) with private corporations and non governmental orgs
partnership ex
york region and Toronto water and waster water ex
contracting out
the government purchases services from private firms while remaining accountable for service delivery
franchising and licensing
government grants rights to private firms to provide specific services
licensing ex
only people with licenses are allow to carry out service
hydro
privatization
government relinquishes control by selling assets or interests in services to private entitie
ex privatization
air Canada
some challenges associated with ASD and accountability?
increased complexity and fragmentation
arms length relationship
hidden or shadow bururcary
transaction costs
hidden / shadow bureaucracy
private or non-governmental partners, lacking transparency and potentially undermining democratic oversight.
NPM view of accountability in ASD
emphasis on results over process,
promotes performance-based accountability, assuming that market competition will drive efficiency
NPG view of accountability in ASD
recognizes multiple accountabilities within networks and aims to enhance social responsiveness and collaboration
