ABSTRACT
Various writers have identified assorted sets of barriers that they consider to be most menacing to public sector productivity, often basing their choices on obstacles encountered in the particular productivity improvement efforts they are reporting. Individually, such lists are impressive; collectively, they are imposing. This chapter reviews the productivity barriers that are noted in a wide variety of public sector sources and considers their collective ability to thwart productivity gains. Most barriers are applicable to all levels of government, some, such as those involving intergovernmental relations; have effects differing from one level to another. Although individual sources typically identify only a few obstacles found to hinder productivity efforts in the particular instance being reported, a cataloguing of productivity barriers found in numerous cases quickly runs to dozens. The chapter identifies 37 separate, though related, barriers common in local governments and considered significant impediments to productivity improvement.
