Page 369 - DECO502_INDIAN_ECONOMIC_POLICY_ENGLISH

Unit 29: Role of Bureaucracy and Delivery Mechanism in Implementation of Economic Policies
Hitesh Jhanji, LPU

Unit 29: Role of Bureaucracy and Delivery Mechanism in Notes
Implementation of Economic Policies

CONTENTS
Objectives
Introduction
29.1 Role of Bureaucracy
29.2 Delivery Mechanism in Implementation of Economic Policies
29.3 Summary
29.4 Key-Words
29.5 Review Questions
29.6 Further Readings

Objectives

After reading this Unit students will be able to:
• Describe the Role of Bureaucracy and Delivery Mechanism in Implementation of Economic
Policies.
Introduction

An economic policy can not be successful only with the formulation of good policy. The success
depends more on efficient and effective implementation but it is a tragedy in our country that
implementation process has been very poor. It may be noted that bureaucracy is very important tool
for implementation of economic policies. Thus, their role becomes very crucial in this process. Here,
bureaucratic hurdles in the effective implementation of economic policies have been discussed.
Moreover, good governance, needed changes in its role, required administrative reforms and strategies
and policies for improvement in bureaucracy have also been included in the discussion of this issue.
29.1 Role of Bureaucracy

The term Bureaucracy was coined by M de Gournay, an economist of France, in the 18th century. He
referred to it as “a fourth or fifth form of Government”. According to him, in these system officers,
clerks, secretaries, inspectors and attendants are not appointed to benefit the public interest. The
public interest appears to have been established so that offices might exist. According to Harolds J.
Laski, bureaucracy may be defined as a system of Government, the control of which is so completely
in the hands of officials that their power jeopardises the liberties of ordinary citizens. The characteristics
of bureaucracy were first formulated in a systematic manner by the German Sociologist Max Weber
(1864-1920). According to Weber, there are three types of authority, viz., traditional, charismatic and
legal-rational (bureaucratic). He classsifies traditional authority as the authority resting on an
established belief in the sanctity of immemorial traditions and the legitimacy of the status of those
exercising authority under them. Charismatic authority rests on the devotion to the specific and
exceptional sanctity, heroism or exemplary character of an individual person, and of the normative
patterns or order revealed or ordained by him. While the legal authority rests on the premises of
legality of patterns of normative rules and the right of those elevated to authority under such rules to
issues commands.
The characteristic features of bureaucracy are given below :
1. Impersonal Order : In bureaucracy, the authority is inherent in the post and not the individual
who performs the official role.

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