Private Sector more Efficient than Public?

[Eddie Teach]

One of the many problems with the public sector is that it doesn't attract top talent.

He means McGill graduates.

[CountDeMoney]

He means McGill graduates.

There was a piece on the news the other night with American college students at McGill and other Canuckistani universities, how they're going there to save money, where they can get a 4 year degree for the cost of 1 year at a major university in the US.  They looked happy, and you could see the transformation into Canuckistani in their faces.

[Josquius]

And what incentive is there for a government worker to do more than the "least possible work"?

There is both positive and negative incentive.
On the one hand public sector workers will generally care more about their work. Many of them will have entered the public sector because they want to make the country a better place and have a genuine desire to help people- they could make much more money in the private sector afterall. Really depends what you mean by public sector there of course.
On the other hand public sector workers are in it for the long hall. They're not just doing a quick contract then leaving. If they do a shitty job they're the ones who'll have to clean it up a few years down the line. This one will be quite universal from the highest national governing civil servants down to the local pot hole fillers.

[Phillip V]

And what incentive is there for a government worker to do more than the "least possible work"?

You are confulsing two things.

One is a private contractor "efficiency" of providing as little service possible for the amount being paid.

The other is a workers motivation to work.  Whether they are in the public or private sectors employee motivation is a universal issue. 

Motivation is most important to getting the job done regardless of contract.

[Phillip V]

And what incentive is there for a government worker to do more than the "least possible work"?

There is both positive and negative incentive.
On the one hand public sector workers will generally care more about their work. Many of them will have entered the public sector because they want to make the country a better place and have a genuine desire to help people- they could make much more money in the private sector afterall. Really depends what you mean by public sector there of course.
On the other hand public sector workers are in it for the long hall. They're not just doing a quick contract then leaving. If they do a shitty job they're the ones who'll have to clean it up a few years down the line. This one will be quite universal from the highest national governing civil servants down to the local pot hole fillers.

We are talking about services provided to the public being provided by either government or private sector. Thus, a private sector employee servicing the public can also "make the country a better place."

A private company doing a shitty job loses the contract and future business. Why would they do that? If there are cost overruns, it will bill the government, which to date has happily obliged.

[frunk]

And what incentive is there for a government worker to do more than the "least possible work"?

If I'm getting paid a flat salary what difference in motivation is there between someone working for a private company and the government?

[Josquius]

We are talking about services provided to the public being provided by either government or private sector. Thus, a private sector employee servicing the public can also "make the country a better place."

They can. But its not such a motivator for going into their field of work.

A private company doing a shitty job loses the contract and future business. Why would they do that? If there are cost overruns, it will bill the government, which to date has happily obliged.

The boss maybe thinks so. The workers doing the actual work, who as a supposed advantage of the private sector are expendable and can be fired if they demand a raise, don't give a crap.
Even with the managment- might it not be seen as better to do as bad a job as you can get away with so that things will break eventually and another contract will be in the offering?

[garbon]

A private sector vs. public?

[Admiral Yi]

So Squeeze, your assertion is that train driver that works for the government is motivated by the desire to help others, while one that works for a private company is not?

[Josquius]

So Squeeze, your assertion is that train driver that works for the government is motivated by the desire to help others, while one that works for a private company is not?

Nope. A train driver is motivated by a desire to drive trains.
I said it depends what we mean by public worker, it doesn't apply to all jobs.

[Admiral Yi]

Nope. A train driver is motivated by a desire to drive trains.
I said it depends what we mean by public worker, it doesn't apply to all jobs.

OK.  What types of jobs are you talking about?

[Valmy]

A private company doing a shitty job loses the contract and future business. Why would they do that? If there are cost overruns, it will bill the government, which to date has happily obliged.

THe same reason private companies do shitty work all the time: poor management, incompetence, blah blah.  Fortunately for them if they contracting for the government they can keep their contract by playing their politics well enough, while doing this which is harder to pull off when providing services for other sorts of customers.  Which is why I doubt it really makes much of a difference efficiency wise whether the government does it inhouse or by contract.  As I said the main difference I see is the workers are paid less...I find it weird that more poorly paid workers will be more motivated doing the exact same job just because they are in the private sector.  But I guess it is possible with a well run organization with good management.

[Valmy]

One of the many problems with the public sector is that it doesn't attract top talent.

Yeah but generally the public sector is doing pretty unchallenging things like maintaining parks.  HOw much super talent do you really need for that?

[The Brain]

One of the many problems with the public sector is that it doesn't attract top talent.

Yeah but generally the public sector is doing pretty unchallenging things like maintaining parks. 

That would have been awesome.

[Josquius]

Nope. A train driver is motivated by a desire to drive trains.
I said it depends what we mean by public worker, it doesn't apply to all jobs.

OK.  What types of jobs are you talking about?

Care. Landscaping. The railway managers.