This report, with a foreword by Oliver Harwich, provides a deep examination of the structure and function of the New Zealand state. It deconstructs the workings of government by reflecting on human behavior within institutions. Drawing from Burton’s experience in the public sector, the report explores three key areas: the motivations of public servants, the concept of institutional mismatch leading to policy failures, and the ecological limits of the state. Additionally, it delves into critical reforms needed to improve the state's efficiency, emphasizing that these reforms must acknowledge its inherent limitations.
The document critiques commonly held beliefs about altruistic bureaucratic motivations and outlines examples of the system’s dysfunctions, including cases of institutional failure in addressing state abuses. The report introduces ‘institutional mismatch’ and highlights the necessity of structural change to remedy the limitations of New Zealand's public service.
Authors
- Pages
- 76
- Published in
- New Zealand
Table of Contents
- Foreword 7
- Introduction 8
- Chapter 1 12
- Three tales of life in the Wellington government village 12
- Chapter 2 20
- The DNA of the New Zealand state 20
- Chapter 3 29
- The state ecosystem 29
- Chapter 4 40
- The ecological limits of the state 40
- Chapter 5 52
- Tinkering with the old-style state 52
- Conclusion 63
- References 64
- Endnotes 69
