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Framing Public Governance Reforms: A Comparison of the OECD and the World Bank

Governance
Public Administration
Knowledge
World Bank
Fabrizio De Francesco
University of Strathclyde
Fabrizio De Francesco
University of Strathclyde

Abstract

As knowledge banks and transfert agents, international organisations promote the spread of governance reform. In order to enhance their authority and legitimacy, the knowledge produced by international organisations follows precise patterns and institutional dynamics. Principles of good governance are set within transnational hubs of information and knowledge exchange. Activities of data collection, generation, discussion and decision on policy ideas, as well as evaluation and peer review of the implementation of policy recommendation are international organisations' cognitive and normative resources. Accordingly, the organisational structure and the way of working of international organisations are centred on the production, standardisation and dissemination of knowledge of policy innovations and best practice. This paper aims to comparatively assess and explain how international best practices of administrative and governance reforms are selected, edited, framed and promoted. By focusing on a common agenda of reform through which both the OECD and the World Bank have established themselves as knowledge authorities of the new public management movement, this comparison will shed light on ideational mechanisms within transnational governance and policy transfer.