Administration must deal with many issues as the political, social and economic face of the country changes. Government in the United States is different than in many countries because we are a citizen-centered society that ideally answers to the populace.
Our public programs are funded by taxpayers. Because administration of public programs requires attention to the ethics and culture of society, it must change as the government policies change. Here are five issues that impact the administration of public programs today.
In America the two-party system has traditionally meant that Republicans want more state or locally-centered government and fewer programs while the Democratic Party favors more centralized government. Public program administrators must change policies to react to the positions of the party in power.
The recent economic downturn plays a part in the shift between philosophies too because politicians are skittish about funding certain kinds of programs.
The trend has been toward downsizing and administrators have to figure out how to do the same work with fewer employees. Work morale suffers when raises are capped and hiring freezes as well as restructuring threaten jobs.
