Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Bureaucracy and Political Economy


When bureaucracy functions in a systematic manner that rejuvenates the economy and increases productivity, there will be an increase in output and growth in the wealth of the nation and people will be well off. However, when bureaucracy functions in a negative manner such that production dwindles and the economy follows a negative direction, society plunges into a dangerous situation that could take years to resuscitate. Bureaucracy is known for the delivery of services and the application of good organization that is responsible for producing the services demanded by society.

When we speak of corrupt bureaucracy from a global perspective, what comes to mind are the negative behaviors of the former Soviet Union bureaucracy-a bureaucracy that was known for malpractices–malpractices that put their own citizens in political, social, and economic predicaments such that the trail of economic disasters they left behind continues to haunt millions of struggling Soviets to this day. According to Hyman (2011), bureaucrats and politicians are the two most important foundations that influence political equilibriums. In the current state of affairs of America’s political systems, making public choices, taxation, the marginal benefits of public goods, and the distribution of benefits all have a hand in political equilibrium.

In modern democracies such as the U.S., people usually vote on issues of major concern that lead to political equilibrium. Collective public choices lead to majority rule and exceptional political equilibrium. Political equilibrium is influenced by several factors that are all related to politics. Majority rule that allows a party to have overwhelming powers to change or implement new policies, legislator record as a guiding principle for executing tough, suitable, and sustainable policies, the systematic approach of delivering goods and services, and citizen effectiveness in productivity are some of the factors that influence political equilibrium. The struggle for political supremacy often seen in political rallies and political debates are models of political behavior where political parties jostle to maximize votes. The enthronement of a politician elevates the political clout of his or her political party and his or her personal self-esteem while the rise of a political party that has been in political hibernation for sometime leads to sweeping governmental operations that could either be good for the nation or disastrous depending on the new administrative strategies applied.

References

Hyman, D.D. (2011). Public finance: A contemporary application of theory to policy (10th ed.).

            Mason, OH: South-Western, Cengage Learning.

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