A big problem, often noted by astute observers, is that all the incentives in the government are inverse of those in the private sector. In the private sector, there is great incentive to keep wages down and productivity up. There is great incentive to save money. As has been often noted, in the public sector the incentive is to spend money and move wages higher. Productivity is hard to measure, as there is no market discipline.
I do not have the answer to this, but eliminating entire departments seems to be one thing that works.
marktwain wrote: “A big problem, often noted by astute observers, is that all the incentives in the government are inverse of those in the private sector. In the private sector, there is great incentive to keep wages down and productivity up. There is great incentive to save money. As has been often noted, in the public sector the incentive is to spend money and move wages higher. Productivity is hard to measure, as there is no market discipline.”
..... Indeed, my impression is that “productivity” is largely self-defined within government bureaucracies, none of which ever seem to become either redundant or obsolete no matter how great passage of time or events.
marktwain wrote: “I do not have the answer to this, but eliminating entire departments seems to be one thing that works.”
..... I agree. Much less squealing ensues when a single pig is slaughtered.