Innovating to modernise the public sector in France

In the early 21st century the idea of a “new public management” emerged, a paradigm shift towards a public service of high quality, efficiency and transparency83. But, as many researchers have noted84, in practice public management in France has been modernized only little. Public administrations continue to work too often in “silos”, isolated from each other and from those they are supposed to serve. Citizens and enterprises have lost confidence in the administration because they still suffer under excessively complex and expensive rules and procedures rooted in tradition. The problem has been exacerbated by the recent economic crisis, which has forced France like most Western countries to reduce government spending at all levels. The oft-used strategy of indiscriminate budget cuts has done nothing to modernize administrative practices in a sustainable way.

Sustainable Development Goals:

Decent Work and Economic Growth

Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure