EUKN - European Urban Knowledge Network - Beyond new public management

Beyond new public management

Introduction

This paper is based on the local government experience in Europe, Australia and North America, will examine the strengths and weaknesses of the ‘New Public Management’- a practice that often seeks to redefine citizens as consumers of products or customers of public service providers.

Description

In this paper it will be suggested that New Public Management ideas have had a beneficial impact on the management and delivery of some public services. But the main thrust of this paper is to suggest that many of the ideas associated with New Public Management are not that helpful to city leaders and managers charged with the leadership and management of complex urban areas. This paper argues that it is essential to move beyond New Public Management and articulate an agenda for public service reform that pays far more attention to the motivation of public servants and the importance of refreshing citizen involvement. This approach, which also pays careful attention to the politics of place, has been named New City Management.

Background information

The New City Management is about much more than the development of an array of managerial tools for ‘good’ governance – such as customer driven decision-making, performance measurement systems and the contracting out of public services to private companies. This paper suggests that there is a need to examine the changing roles of politicians, managers and citizens in the governance of localities.

Conclusions

In conclusion, there is no suggestion that the movement to New City
Management represents a well defined shift in local government in all western democracies. By outlining the main contours of the New City Management, this report has attempted to show how New Public Management offers an inadequate response to the challenges now facing city and regional governments across the world. This paper offers a peculiarly narrow view of public service, one that seriously neglects the democratic vitality of the polity. This paper suggests that we can move beyond managerial ‘solutions’ and blend managerial innovation with political innovation designed to enhance democratic values, communities as well as the institutions of local democracy.

Contact info

College of Urban planning & public affairs
Robin Hambleton

Publication date

01/01/2004

Researcher

Robin Hambleton

Links

Beyond new public management

Beyond new public management (PDF, Eng, 242 KB)

Document type

research

Themes

Urban Policy > Social inclusion & integration > Quality of life

Keywords

Social services