Open AccessStreet level bureaucracy and the dilemmas of private entities in public spaces: Case of GPRTU
Author(s) -
Patience Ama Nyantakyiwaa Boahen
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
afrrev ijah
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2227-5452
pISSN - 2225-8590
DOI - 10.4314/ijah.v5i2.1
Subject(s) - dilemma , bureaucracy , public administration , private sector , autonomy , public sector , discretion , public relations , government (linguistics) , deregulation , business , economics , political science , market economy , law , politics , economic growth , epistemology , philosophy , linguistics
Lipsky’s notion of “street-level bureaucrats” refers to public sector actors who provide service and sanction the public due to their ability to wield discretionary power. Hence are autonomous from government. Discretionary power enables them to shape public policy in pursuit of private agendas by inter alia creating artificial shortages. Given that they a pose threat to government’s efforts, government sometimes moves to curtail their power of discretion and autonomy. Street-level bureaucrats are rational and activate mechanisms to escape government control. This study examines the coping mechanisms of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) after government implementation of a petroleum price deregulation policy. This paper raises questions and sets the stage for the next part by highlighting the notions of the prisoner’s dilemma, collective action, tragedy of commons and organizational choice. These are refracted through the transactional model of coping strategies of entities.Keywords: Street-level bureaucrats, discretionary power, autonomy, coping strategy, GPRTU, transactional model