Goverment accountability for outsourced services

Richard Mulgan*

*Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

    57 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    The effect of outsourcing on government accountability for public services continues to be contested. Analysts point to an accountability deficit while governments insist that accountability is retained (and indeed improved). The existence of an accountability deficit is confirmed, using examples from the Commonwealth Job Network. The government claim, that accountability remains, is best interpreted as rhetorical, as a refusal to shift blame to private contractors, even though some channels of accountability may be weakened. The claim can be seen as evidence of an increasing incorporation of private contractors into the overall structure of government.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)48-58
    Number of pages11
    JournalAustralian Journal of Public Administration
    Volume65
    Issue number2
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - Jun 2006

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