Mastering Leviathan: A Review Article on "Growing the Productivity of Government Services"

• Main Author: Aled ab Iorwerth
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Centre for the Study of Living Standards 2013-09-01
• Series: International Productivity Monitor
• Subjects: productivity; government services; government productivity
• Online Access: http://www.csls.ca/ipm/26/IPM-26-Iorwerth.pdf

This review article evaluates the book Growing the Productivity of Government Services by Patrick Dunleavy and Leandro Carrera, which examines how government outputs can be measured and how the United Kingdom has strived to improve government productivity. The author finds the book valuable, as it shows how methodological advances reported in Sir Tony Atkinson’s recommendations on reporting government outputs can be put into practice. Furthermore, documenting how government productivity can be improved in the United Kingdom provides valuable lessons for other countries. The potential of technology to improve government productivity is emphasized in the book, although the author suggests that a more basic role of reporting on government output will spur reform. Strong management skills will be important not only for effective implementation of IT but also for broader improvements in government productivity.