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Easy to identify but widespread and hard to cure - one example is the practice of "needing" to exhaust this year's budget for fear of a reduction next year. In
by ericras 9y ago
Easy to identify but widespread and hard to cure - one example is the practice of "needing" to exhaust this year's budget for fear of a reduction next year. In business you'd be rewarded for saving money. In government you replace an office full of Dell PCs that are less than a year old. This sort of inertia touches nearly every part of gov.
- electricEmu 9y agoWait, in business? In many places I've been the budget runs on "use it or lose it" in the private sector as well. You're only getting a cost savings medal if it's substantial and doesn't affect your own department.
- Clubber 9y agoYes, the idea that business is any better at not wasting money is a fallacy, particularly large, cash-cow businesses. But your point is right. The incentives for budgeting, at least at the government institution I worked for years ago is if you don't use it, you lose it, so it leads to completely using the budget every year regardless of if it is actually needed or not.