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?