Final answer:
Special Districts are specific governmental units that provide services not typically managed by general-purpose governments, like school districts. Governments vary globally in service provision, with the US offering a mix of limited government ideals and essential services. Efficiency in government service provision may be challenged by private sector competition or improved through outsourcing.
Step-by-step explanation:
The type of government being referred to in this question is most likely Special Districts. These are unique units of government that provide services which are not typically offered by general-purpose governments, such as city or county governments. A common example of a special district is the local school district, which focuses specifically on educational services. However, there are other types that cater to various specific needs especially in densely populated areas where larger governmental bodies might be overwhelmed.
Many essential public services provided by government are considered public goods; for example, it would be impractical to selectively offer fire and police protection within the same neighborhood, as protection dispensed to some inherently extends to others. Furthermore, governments across the world vary in their role in providing these services, from minimal involvement to comprehensive cradle-to-grave programs, such as in Sweden, or through non-profit sectors in places like Egypt. The United States falls somewhere in the middle of this spectrum, with a traditional focus on freedom and limited government, yet it provides a substantial array of public services such as Social Security and Medicare.
When the government provides these services directly, it is often less efficient than private firms, except in cases where government competes with private firms, or when it outsources services to private firms through contractual agreements. This can be observed in local services like garbage collection, which can be managed by a mix of government employees and private companies.