Public Sector Reforms in Pakistan Hierarchies, Markets and Networks

Abstract

Public sector reform is a never-ending journey. It must learn the lessons from the past, disseminate effective improvements, and develop new reforms for current problems. Public Sector Reforms in Pakistan: Hierarchies, Markets or Networks is written by a range of young researchers, academicians, and practitioners. It truly brings together some of the best thinkers that Pakistan has to offer. It takes both a broad perspective as well as examines the drivers of specific applications. It analyzes the use of well-established tools such as public–private partnerships, as well as modern-day issues of inclusion and sustainability. It reaches important conclusions that are stated as hypotheses in the concluding chapter. A most important conclusion is that broad and general reform efforts of the past that do not include important, powerful actors often get stalled. They find that decentralization “remained a distant dream” due to the absence of political power transfers at local governance. The lesson is to now more tightly link public sector reforms to “need-based reforms that aim to solve specific governance problems with clearly defined mechanisms.” I concur. I have seen in many developing countries outstanding and innovative improvements when capable, well-motivated administrative leaders, empowered by law and political leaders, address specific problems in specific policy domains. Broad reform ideas matter, but so do constellations of effective and united actors. The result may be quite uneven in the short term, but in time others may yet get on board when these are further institutionalized by law and incentive. Public Sector Reforms in Pakistan: Hierarchies, Markets or Networks makes a significant and essential contribution to our understanding of public sector reforms through such insights. Readers will find this an important book that strengthens conclusions about the direction of public sector reforms.