Comments on: Can the public sector learn from the private? http://touchstoneblog.org.uk/2009/11/can-the-public-sector-learn-from-the-private/ Policy news and comment from the Trades Union Congress (TUC) Thu, 24 May 2012 11:52:07 +0000 hourly 1 By: Geraint Day http://touchstoneblog.org.uk/2009/11/can-the-public-sector-learn-from-the-private/comment-page-1/#comment-4224 Geraint Day Fri, 06 Nov 2009 23:18:08 +0000 http://www.touchstoneblog.org.uk/?p=4449#comment-4224 Worrying indeed. And why would should it be assumed that those who could be brought in would know any more about running the Civil Service than civil servants would know about running business? But then others have pointed out similar flaws in this sort of approach: "Merchants and master manufacturers ... by their wealth draw to themselves the greatest share of the public consideration ... As their thoughts, however, are commonly exercised rather about the interest of their own particular branch of business than about that of society, their judgment, even when given with the greatest candour ... is much more to be depended upon with regard to the former of these two objects, than with regard to the latter." [Adam Smith, 'An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of The Wealth of Nations', Harriman House, Petersfield, 2007 (originally published in 1776), page 162.] Worrying indeed. And why would should it be assumed that those who could be brought in would know any more about running the Civil Service than civil servants would know about running business? But then others have pointed out similar flaws in this sort of approach:

“Merchants and master manufacturers … by their wealth draw to themselves the greatest share of the public consideration … As their thoughts, however, are commonly exercised rather about the interest of their own particular branch of business than about that of society, their judgment, even when given with the greatest candour … is much more to be depended upon with regard to the former of these two objects, than with regard to the latter.”

[Adam Smith, 'An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of The Wealth of Nations', Harriman House, Petersfield, 2007 (originally published in 1776), page 162.]

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