PVEB The Economics of Bureaucracy

Faculty of Economics and Administration
Autumn 2003
Extent and Intensity
0/0. 3 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
Wolfgang Weigel (lecturer), doc. JUDr. Ivan Malý, CSc. (deputy)
doc. Ing. Jaroslav Rektořík, CSc. (alternate examiner)
Guaranteed by
doc. JUDr. Ivan Malý, CSc.
Department of Public Economics – Faculty of Economics and Administration
Contact Person: Jana Fuksová
Timetable
Thu 13. 11. 13:45–17:05 S305, Thu 20. 11. 13:45–17:05 S305, Thu 27. 11. 13:45–17:05 S305, Thu 4. 12. 13:45–17:05 S305
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is offered to students of any study field.
Course objectives
The Economics of Bureaucracy (Towards a more efficient Public Administration) The proposed course consists of four modules (which can be expanded, of course) The first module deals with explanatory theories of inefficiencies in bureaucracy (the supply side of public goods and services) as well as the role of bureaucrats as voters, lobbyists and legislators. In detail: outstanding theories of administrative failure: - Baumol's theory of the "cost disease" - Williamson's theory of discretionary behaviour - Niskanens theory of oversupply - Leibenstein's theory of X-inefficiency - other aspects of administrative failure: - theories of corruption - "public choice"-approaches such as bureaucrats' voting power The second module focuses on the measurement of bureaucratic performance: from the much criticized input-oriented measures within the framework of GDP to more advanced techniques for productivity and effectiveness. The third module gives an overview over devices to increase bureaucratic efficiency, starting with partial approaches such as - auditing - controlling - the ombudsman and moving on to more comprehensive devices Programming-Planning-Budgeting-Systems, Zero-Base-Budgeting, Controlling and Benchmarking. The final module encompasses recent developments from lean administration to outsourcing and privatizations respectively. Moreover, new developments in labour contracts including incentive-schemes for bureaucrats are addressed. The course can be provided either in English or in Deutsch The lecture addresses students with some basic knowledge in public finance and welfare economics. Should there be a request, it can be complemented by a brief introduction to the appropriate fields as well. Literatura: Thrainn Eggertsson (1990), Economic Behavior and Institutions, Cambridge New York W.Weigel (1992), Ökonomie des Öffentlichen Sektors, Vienna (Chapters 2,3,4 and 9) Jan-Erik Lane, the Public Sector: Concepts, Models and Approaches, Sage 2000
Language of instruction
English
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
The course is taught only once.
Information on the extent and intensity of the course: 16 hodin.
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/econ/autumn2003/PVEB