Mapping the use of public management tools in European public administration

Abstract

International audience

This chapter offers an initial but global picture emphasizing variations in the diffusion and perceived uses of public management tools in the 13 European countries covered by the Cocops Survey. The strong value of the Cocops survey is that it allows to understand changes in public management on the basis of a single input corresponding to a set of questions in which: top civil servants were asked to evaluate the use of the management tools employed in their national administrations. From this result the opportunity to measure the presence of a certain number of management tools in national civil services and policy sectors as well as the possibility to identify national and inter-sector variations The first finding of the Cocops survey is that the spread of market type mechanisms, inspired by Public Choice, has been limited in Europe.The second finding, on variations between countries, confirms the classic contrast between northern and southern countries, but significantly alters the position within these groupings. The most surprising result is the split in the southern countries group between Spain which, in terms of equipment in management tools, seems one of the countries least engaged in the reforms, and Italy and Portugal, which show marked commitment in certain areas.The third finding is the existence of significant internal variations within countries, linked both with organisational types but also with policy sectors