POL SCI 40 Lecture Notes - Lecture 10: Government Accountability Office
3 Nov 2016
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Whe(cid:374) (cid:271)ur that co(cid:374)gress (cid:272)reates do(cid:374)"t do (cid:449)hat co(cid:374)gress (cid:449)a(cid:374)ts: pri(cid:374)(cid:272)ipal-agent issues. Or diff goals than what pres wants too. Agency loss: even within the bur, secretary may not get what she wants from the dpmt. Ho(cid:449)e(cid:448)er (cid:271)ur"s are (cid:374)eeded (cid:271)e(cid:272)ause too (cid:373)a(cid:374)(cid:455) ad(cid:373)i(cid:374)/da(cid:455) to da(cid:455) de(cid:272)isio(cid:374)s. Helpful if go(cid:448) (cid:374)eeds to do thi(cid:374)gs that so(cid:373)e i(cid:374)di(cid:448)iduals or groups do(cid:374)"t like: not direct responsibility anymore. Age(cid:374)t"s e(cid:454)pertise a(cid:374)d (cid:272)o(cid:374)trol o(cid:448)er i(cid:374)for(cid:373)atio(cid:374) -> hard for principals to monitor. Easier for them to conceal what they are doing. Example: bureau of alcohol, tobacco, firearms and explosives. Many guns (54000) cigarette packs and alcohol etc to oversee/regulate. Gun locking fed agent sell a gun to somebody who is really bad and should not have them tracking devices. Goal is (cid:271)(cid:455) distri(cid:271)uti(cid:374)g the(cid:373) to people (cid:449)ho should(cid:374)"t (cid:271)e usi(cid:374)g the(cid:373) to tra(cid:272)k (cid:449)ho"s o(cid:374) top of this orga(cid:374)izatio(cid:374) (cid:894)heads of (cid:272)artels(cid:895) failed i(cid:374) (cid:862)fast a(cid:374)d furious(cid:863: 2000 guns sold but only 700 tracked back.
