Meritocracy in the Public Service - Barbara Nunberg

Meritocracy in the Public Service

Agenda

1. A broader concept of merit (with implications for Brazil)

2. Evolution of meritocracy in the US 3. What politicians need from civil servants4. Items on the advanced country public service

reform agenda5. US civil service prepares for Trump6. Concluding ideas

• Merit = deserving respect, excellence, worth• Fair, transparent, standardized HR procedures • Open, competitive recruitment that

identifies the “best person for the job” • Professional – not political, personal criteria

for hiring, promoting, discipline• Long term career perspective• Promotion via internal competition

Weber’s meritocracy

LAC indices favor formal merit, so Brazil highly ranked

But “aspirational” comparator governments out-perform Brazil

Brazil wage bill relatively high

Staff expansion by PT boosted personnel spending

States & municipalities… account for 2/3 total wage spending

States & municipalities… where personnel spending grew most in last decade

States % municipalities… where revenues can’t sustain wage bills

Now federal government also in revenue squeeze; salary costs dropped as % of revenues but up in 2014

Best person for the job?