How do government jobs work? How should they work? This course focuses on those questions.
For generations, the basic structure of public employment attracted little political attention. That has now changed. Debates rage over hiring, firing, unionization, and the balance between political control and nonpartisan administration.
This course examines how American governments structure and manage their workforces. We will study the emergence of the modern civil service, its constitutional constraints, and its effects on performance and accountability. Specific focus areas will include the relationship between political appointees and career officials; systems for hiring, promotion, and dismissal; salaries, performance pay, and pensions; and the role of public sector unions.
The course will pay particular attention to the impact of workforce rules on state capacity: what government can actually get done and at what cost. Case studies will examine technology delivery and infrastructure projects, including the balance between government employees and contractors. While the primary focus is the United States, we will also draw international comparisons.
This is a course in institutional design. At every stage, students will be asked how they would enable governments to attract the right candidates, get the best results, and satisfy the demands of American law and democracy. As a final project, students will write and argue their own proposals for improving key aspects of government employment.