Comparative analysis between governments in the provision of goods and services

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Bardhyl N. Salihu Posted: Sun, May 20 2012 7:13 AM

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Hey guys, is there any literature which comparatively analyzes the performance of governments not against private companies but against other governments? We're familiar with the profit-and-loss incentive structure which pushes private companies to be more efficient than governments in the long run (though not the only reason), but what determines the fact that the government of Germany is more efficient than the government of, say, Zimbabwe, in providing electricity?

Please don't respond with "governments are never efficient," or "how do you know the German government is more efficient" because a) true, but I want to compare between governments, i.e. which is more efficient and why; and b) many reasons, the least of which is the absence of electricity cuts, lower taxes in paying for the utility service, far better infrastructure, etc.

Cheers

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John James replied on Sun, May 20 2012 7:22 AM

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I honestly cannot think of where you might get such analysis.  But I'm curious as to why you'd want such a thing.  Isn't it kind of like trying to find research on what is the most efficient slave plantation from the 19th century?

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Bardhyl N. Salihu replied on Sun, May 20 2012 12:18 PM

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First because I find it an interesting exercise personally. Second, because in cases where government cannot be reduced due to extremelly well-vested rent-seeking interests, reforming the government (even nominally) can increase the welfare. The problem is that people fail to make a connection between the failure of the government to provide such services like electricity (we've had electricity cuts for over 12 years now) and the fact that the government is providing them. As a result, it is difficult to mount anti-government sentiment despite overwhelming evidence to its failures.