Government as a Business?
My academic background is in public administration, which is to say the “boots on the ground” part of the government, the doers who get things done … also known as the bureaucracy. Since that 11-letter word is often treated as a 4-letter one, let’s unpack things a bit.
Folks often harp that government ought to be run more like a business. However, serving the public good does not always turn a profit. (Chapter 1 of my first book, Ethics in Fiscal Administration: An Introduction, goes into this concept in more detail.) There are aspects of the private sector that represent good practices for the public sector to follow, such as undergoing external audits and encouraging innovative practices. On the flip side, I would argue that the public sector operates in certain ways that corporations might learn from, as well – such as engaging multiple stakeholders (read: not stockholders) in decision-making, exercising transparency in financial records, and demonstrating a commitment to social responsibility.
If government agencies were sold out to corporations, then “free” perks that are often supported through local taxes such as neighborhood parks, community walking trails, and city dog parks would likely come with a hefty fee-for-use. There is already talk of privatizing the U.S. Postal Service … and you think stamps are expensive now?? Imagine sending holiday greeting cards via UPS or FedEx! The expected increase to $0.78 this summer doesn’t sound too awful now, does it?
While I stand firmly by the assertion that government should not be run like a business, I do feel a twinge of jealousy (and admiration) when I see articles like this one featuring the outspoken Marriott CEO, which reiterate that private corporations are not beholden to the same limits that public agencies are.
Kudos to companies like Marriott that are pushing back – and even snubbing – Chief Cheeto’s deluded attempts to dismantle efforts toward diversity, equity, an inclusion. It certainly makes me want to look at them first when I need to book travel!
References and Further Reading
Marriott CEO speaks about DEI. https://www.aol.com/marriott-ceo-spoke-dei-next-151216540.html
Ethics in Fiscal Administration: An Introduction. Routledge Press. (FYI: It happens to be on sale currently!)