Public sector modernization is no longer an option, but a necessity. It will help governments respond to changing societal needs and maintain competitiveness in an uncertain international environment. Modernising Government takes stock of the past two decades of public sector modernization in OECD countries. The last twenty years have witnessed an influx of new ideas and initiatives... but have these new ideas worked in practice? This book assesses failures and successes and identifies the challenges ahead. The book examines certain selected key public management policy levers of reform such as: open government public sector performance modernizing accountability and control reallocation and restructuring modernizing public employment the use of market mechanisms This report will be of great interest to all those involved with public management policy.