Global recession: Does New Public Management (NPM) work in Macedonia?

Abstract

The paper examines the argument that NPM is inappropriate to Macedonia on account of problems such as corruption, low administrative capacity and political decentralization. In making the points, the critical literature review of the developing countries experience with new public management (NPM) was used, as well as the comparative approach with the main characteristics and results of NPM in Macedonia during the economic recovery. The findings suggested that the outcome of individual NPM initiatives depends on localized contingency factors rather than any general national characteristics. In practice NPM was not universal receipt in the conditions of global economic recession. Reformers needed to be guided by the needs of the situation. In Macedonia, the local contingency factors have been largely ignored and therefore the NPM did not work. One of the indicators was the condition of public services after the economic downturn. There were no better public services after the crash. Key words: Global economic crisis, New Public Management (NPM), developing countries, Macedonia.