Comparing Performance across Public Sectors

This chapter compares the models for managing performance of four countries and the extent to which they have been implemented. The approach is, first, to examine the countries in terms of their official models and how these compare to an ideal type of Performance Management. The second part addresses how the country models work in practice, focusing on the main dimensions of performance. The countries have well-developed performance management systems, but practice falls short of aspirations, and questions remain about the quality and use of performance information in the budget process, internal decision making and external reporting. Details of the country material and references are in Bouckaert and Halligan (2008).