Are Laws Needed for Public Management Reforms? An International Comparison

IMF Working Papers, March 1, 2005

Source details

Canonical URL: Are Laws Needed for Public Management Reforms? An International Comparison

There has been widespread adoption of new laws to support new public management.
In many countries that have implemented comprehensive and deep reforms, new or amended laws have fundamentally changed the role of the state and the budget processes supporting it.
Paradoxically, far-reaching modifications to the legal framework for public management have been strongest in countries that often rely on executive decrees for introducing reforms.
This reflects the fundamental nature of the changes, including introducing performanceoriented budgeting and enhancing fiscal transparency and accountability.
Differences in political systems, policy preoccupations, administrative arrangements and legal cultures will prevent globalization of the legal framework for public management.

New or amended laws have been central to implementing comprehensive and deep public management reforms.
Countries relying on executive decrees nonetheless display some of the most extensive legal changes to public management frameworks.
Reforms commonly focus on:
- introducing performanceoriented budgeting
- enhancing fiscal transparency
- strengthening accountability
Heterogeneity across countries (political systems, policy preoccupations, administrative arrangements, legal cultures) limits the standardization or globalization of a single legal framework for public management.

Subject: Budget planning and preparation, Civil service, Fiscal law, Legal support in revenue administration, Public sector
Keywords: budget systems law, management authority, NPM reform, State administration, state secretary, WP