The Federal Civil Service System and the Problem of Bureaucracy
The Economics and Politics of Institutional Change
University of Chicago Press
Published on 15. November 1994
Book
Hardback
240 pages
978-0-226-40170-6 (ISBN)
Description
Examining the political and economic forces that have shaped the civil service system from the Pendleton Act of 1883 through today, the authors explain why, despite efforts to overhaul the federal bureaucracy (most recently by Vice President Al Gore), significant change remains a formidable challenge. Although politicians criticize the unwieldiness of the bureaucracy, this volume shows how they have been largely responsible for its design. The authors examine the development of federal employee interest groups and their negotiations with the president and Congress over hiring policies, salaries and conditions for terminating employment. Using transaction cost analysis and public choice theory, this book aims to provide a new understanding of the growth of the federal bureaucracy and the political and economic obstacles to reforming it.
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
Chicago
United States
Publishing group
The University of Chicago Press
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
Illustrations
5 line drawings, 20 tables
Dimensions
Height: 230 mm
Weight
509 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-226-40170-6 (9780226401706)
Copyright in bibliographic data is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or its licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

Ronald N. Johnson | Gary D. Libecap
Federal Civil Service System and the Problem of Bureaucracy
The Economics and Politics of Institutional Change
E-Book
12/2007
1st Edition
University of Chicago Press
€49.89
Available for download
Content
Acknowledgments 1: The "Problem of Bureaucracy" 2: Replacing Political Patronage with Merit: The Roles of the President and the Congress in the Origins of the Federal Civil Service System 3: The Continuing Political Conflict over Control of Federal Employees and the Requirement for Further Institutional Change 4: The Rise of Federal Employees as an Interest Group: The Early Years 5: The Maturation of Federal Employees as an Interest Group 6: Explaining the Success of Federal Employees as an Interest Group 7: The Implications of a Protected Bureaucracy 8: The Economics and Politics of Institutional Change in the Political Arena Appendix A: Appendix to Chapter 2 Appendix B: Appendix to Chapter 3 Appendix C: Appendix to Chapter 5 Appendix D: Appendix to Chapter 6 References Index