How Evaluation and Auditing Can Help Bring Accountability into the Twenty-First Century

As the first sentence of this book observed, “accountability” is invariably seen as a “good thing.” Throughout we have highlighted the continuing—indeed increasing—attention to accountability with respect to the public sector. We have also noted a paradox: despite there being more activities and resources related to accountability, there is nevertheless the sense, in many jurisdictions, that government and public services are less and less accountable.