Question

In his chapter, "The Political Economy of Bureaucracy," of Democracy for the Few, what does Michael Parenti argue is the myth and reality of inefficiencies when comparing governmental programs to corporations in the U.S?

Answer 1

Michael Parenti in 'The Political Economy of Bureaucracy' debunks the myth that government is less efficient than private corporations, arguing that inefficiencies in bureaucracies like the IRS are similar to private monopolies and that both lack competition. He acknowledges the complexities of balancing efficiency with responsiveness in a merit-based civil service and notes the mixed effects of privatization in the U.S.

Step-by-step explanation:

In his chapter, The Political Economy of Bureaucracy, of Democracy for the Few, Michael Parenti challenges the myth that governmental programs are inherently more inefficient than private corporations. Parenti argues that the reality is more nuanced; while governmental bureaucracies like the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) are frequently criticized for inefficiencies similar to those found in private monopolies such as regional power companies, these inefficiencies can sometimes be attributed to the absence of competition. However, he also discusses the use of a merit-based system to create a more efficient civil service, albeit with trade-offs in responsiveness to elected officials. Moreover, Parenti mentions that efforts to make governments more efficient through privatization have both strengths and weaknesses, which is particularly notable in the United States where there is a strong tradition of free-market principles.