The logic of bureaucratic conduct : an economic analysis of competition, exchange, and efficiency in private and public organizations

Bibliographic Information

The logic of bureaucratic conduct : an economic analysis of competition, exchange, and efficiency in private and public organizations

Albert Breton, Ronald Wintrobe

Cambridge University Press, 1982

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Includes bibliographical references and index

Description and Table of Contents

Description

In this work the authors present a general theory of bureaucracy and use it to explain behaviour in large organizations and to explain what determines efficiency in both governments and business corporations. The theory uses the methods of standard neoclassical economic theory. It relies on two central principles: that members of an organization trade with one another and that they compete with one another. Authority, which is the basis for conventional theories of bureaucracy, is given a role, despite reliance on the idea of trade between bureaucracies. It is argued, however, that bureaucracies cannot operate efficiently on the basis of authority alone. Exchange between bureaucrats is hampered because promises are not enforceable. So trust and loyalty between members of bureaucratic networks play an important part. The authors find that vertical networks promote efficiency while horizontal ones impede it.

Table of Contents

  • 1. Preliminary survey
  • 2. Public and private policies
  • 3. A theory of selective behaviour
  • 4. The accumulation of trust
  • 5. The compensation of bureaucrats
  • 6. The size distribution of bureaus
  • 7. Some applications
  • 8. Concluding observations and agenda.

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Details

  • NCID
    BA01096530
  • ISBN
    • 0521245893
  • LCCN
    81021722
  • Country Code
    uk
  • Title Language Code
    eng
  • Text Language Code
    eng
  • Place of Publication
    Cambridge [Cambridgeshire] ; New York
  • Pages/Volumes
    xi, 195 p.
  • Size
    24 cm
  • Classification
  • Subject Headings
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