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Comparing the performance of national public sectors conceptual problems

Comparing the performance of national public sectors conceptual problems Purpose A number of studies and indicators have ranked European countries in terms of the performance of their public sectors. This paper aims to demonstrate that there are important conceptual problems with such rankings and comparisons.Designmethodologyapproach Using the existing indicators, the paper first shows how European countries' public sectors are ranked. It then goes on to show how conceptual problems with these indicators may lead to incorrect conclusions.Findings Countries' public sector performance cannot be summarised using a single indicator because of inability to define the public sector and the disagreement on what it means for public sectors to perform.Practical implications Despite increasing demand and supply in policy circles for international public sector indicators, the existing ones are unreliable.Originalityvalue This paper extends the assessment of international public sector indicators beyond a mere technical evaluation. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management Emerald Publishing

Comparing the performance of national public sectors conceptual problems

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References (18)

Publisher
Emerald Publishing
Copyright
Copyright © Emerald Group Publishing Limited
ISSN
1741-0401
DOI
10.1108/17410400810867535
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

Purpose A number of studies and indicators have ranked European countries in terms of the performance of their public sectors. This paper aims to demonstrate that there are important conceptual problems with such rankings and comparisons.Designmethodologyapproach Using the existing indicators, the paper first shows how European countries' public sectors are ranked. It then goes on to show how conceptual problems with these indicators may lead to incorrect conclusions.Findings Countries' public sector performance cannot be summarised using a single indicator because of inability to define the public sector and the disagreement on what it means for public sectors to perform.Practical implications Despite increasing demand and supply in policy circles for international public sector indicators, the existing ones are unreliable.Originalityvalue This paper extends the assessment of international public sector indicators beyond a mere technical evaluation.

Journal

International Journal of Productivity and Performance ManagementEmerald Publishing

Published: Apr 25, 2008

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