Public Administration Translation Series -- New Public Management: New Public Management

Author: Lane
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-01-01
Features: This book is a seminal work based on the author's in-depth examination of the practice of the New Public Management (NPM) reform movement in developed capitalist countries, particularly the most thorough NPM reforms in New Zealand and Australia. In the book, he comprehensively analyzes the theoretical origins, main mechanisms, internal mechanisms, and development trends of NPM. It is a rare academic monograph that systematically discusses NPM theory to date and has had a broad impact in public management academia in countries like the UK and the US. The book is divided into five parts and twelve chapters. The introduction first states the book's objective: to construct a comprehensive analytical framework for NPM based on an analysis of NPM theory and existing research approaches, in order to objectively reflect the realities of public management. The two specific objectives are: first, to examine and analyze various theoretical models of public administration and public management, striving to integrate them with NPM to explore the possibility of disciplinary integration and creating a new theoretical framework for public management. Second, to investigate the sustainable applicability of the public sector under the influence of NPM reforms. On this basis, it discusses important issues in NPM research, relevant key concepts, and focuses on the core concept of NPM. The author accurately defines NPM as a combination of contracting-out (contracting with external providers) and contracting-in (internal contracting within the government). Part I consists of two chapters, primarily examining the current state of public management theory research and governance practices. The first chapter discusses the basic research approaches to public management that have gradually developed since the 20th century: the public administration research approach, the management research approach, and the policy research approach, analyzing the differences among these main public management models and pointing out that these traditional governance theories no longer meet the demands of the times. The second chapter provides an overall review of recent developments in public sector projects, public resource allocation, and income redistribution, examining the trends of public sector transformation under the influence of market-oriented reforms such as privatization and deregulation. Part II consists of four chapters, primarily using theoretical tools that directly drive the emergence and development of NPM, such as public choice theory, the Chicago School of Economics, and new institutional economics, which form the important theoretical foundation for NPM. It focuses on analyzing and studying issues such as what problems exist in the bureaucratic organizational structure of resource allocation, why public enterprises cannot operate effectively, and what the main difficulties faced by income security programs or public redistribution are. Part III consists of five chapters, providing a comprehensive and in-depth analysis of various important themes related to the institutional model of NPM. Chapter 7 examines the significant changes brought about by the shift from traditional long-term contracting to the short-term contracting of NPM. Chapter 8 summarizes the main arguments of both proponents and opponents of contract theory. Chapter 9 analyzes the various roles of the government within the contractual governance mechanism. Chapter 10 examines agency contracting, exploring the relationship between the government and its CEOs. Chapter 11 raises the issue of the risks of organizational failure in the NPM system. Finally, in the conclusion chapter, the author analyzes the effectiveness and limitations of NPM centered on public contractivism.