As another comment here mentioned: outsourcing of decision making (consulting) is endemic to bureaucracies, whether that's in government, education or elsewher

As another comment here mentioned: outsourcing of decision making (consulting) is endemic to bureaucracies, whether that's in government, education or elsewhere. Has research been done on the amount of money saved/wasted on these consulting firms? Have any economists tried to evaluate whether or not these consulting firms provide any value at all beyond political cover for bureaucrats afraid to make or incapable of making decisions? From my brief experience working in a large University's bureaucracy and seeing how consulting firms took advantage of the school, I believe the public is being swindled by companies like McKinsey and others. If private corporations want to spend money on consulting firms without any tangible benefits, fine. But taxpayer money should not be wasted on these corporate vultures.