Keys for a quality bureaucracy in Latin America

To improve the capacities of the State and achieve a correct execution of the public policies, it is necessary for each process to be conducted adequately. To achieve this objective, it is essential to build a favorable environment that contributes to the development of a quality bureaucracy. 

One of the most relevant components to improve the public administration, according to the Economy and Development Report (RED) developed by CAF, Development Bank of Latin America, is the suitability of the public officials. That is, the correspondence between the qualifications of the public officials and the tasks to be accomplished. In addition, a good bureaucrat must be honest and motivated to perform social services.  

In this respect, the acceptance of dishonest behaviors and the lack of internal control mechanisms affect the development and effectiveness of the processes. On the other hand, when a worker's tasks have a social meaning or content, they are more prone to make efforts an contribute to the institutional mission.  

In summary, a good bureaucracy requires a combination of the correct people and correct incentives. A greater connection between the salary and career development with the competencies, skills, and efforts of the worker may attract better bureaucrats and generate a better performance. 

Other findings of the report: 

• In Latin America, public officials on average earn 22% more than a private employee. However, salaries in the public sector grow very slowly throughout the employee's career, and the advance of workers in the hierarchical structure is not always determined by individual merits. 
• Workers in the public sector work five hours less than those in the private sector. However, while 30 percent of workers of the private sector state that parts of their salaries are paid according to their performance, this figure reaches 22 percent in the public sector.  
• In the case of Colombia, public workers tend to have a higher motivation toward social issues and greater altruism than those in the private sector. 

These and other topics will be discussed on Tuesday, February 23rd during the presentation of the 2015 RED "A more effective State. Capacities for the design, implementation, and learning of public policies", in Bogota, Colombia, in the ML-B Auditorium, Mario Laserna building of the Universidad de Los Andes.