Unit 2: Growth and Trends in Public Administration - Practice Quiz

1 What was a central concern of New Public Administration?

2 New Public Administration developed mainly as a response to the limitations of which traditional focus?

3 Which value is strongly associated with New Public Administration?

4 Where was the first Minnowbrook Conference held?

5 The first Minnowbrook Conference is most closely associated with the development of which approach?

6 Which issue was emphasized at the first Minnowbrook Conference?

7 The Minnowbrook II Conference took place approximately when?

8 The Minnowbrook III Conference was held approximately when?

9 Public choice theory applies economic reasoning mainly to the study of what?

10 According to public choice theory, public officials are generally assumed to be motivated partly by what?

11 Which idea is commonly linked with public choice theory?

12 Public choice theory views government decisions as being influenced by which factor?

13 What is a main feature of New Public Management?

14 New Public Management seeks to make public organizations more similar to which type of organization?

15 Which term is commonly associated with New Public Management?

16 Which practice may be used under New Public Management?

17 What is the central idea of New Public Service?

18 New Public Service views citizens primarily as what?

19 Which value is emphasized by New Public Service?

20 According to New Public Service, public administrators should primarily do what?

21 A city administration introduces a housing program that gives priority to low-income neighborhoods, even though a uniform distribution would be easier to manage. Which New Public Administration principle is most directly reflected?

22 A public agency evaluates success not only by meeting performance targets but also by examining whether its programs reduce inequality. This approach reflects the concern of New Public Administration with:

23 Which administrative decision best illustrates the activist role associated with New Public Administration?

24 The first Minnowbrook Conference is most closely associated with which shift in public administration?

25 A scholar argues that public administration should address poverty, discrimination, and social unrest rather than focus only on organizational efficiency. This argument most clearly reflects Minnowbrook I's emphasis on:

26 Minnowbrook II, held in a changing political and administrative environment, placed stronger emphasis on which issue?

27 A public administration program combines digital governance, collaborative networks, and democratic accountability to address complex social problems. This orientation is most consistent with the concerns of:

28 Which sequence best represents the broad development of the Minnowbrook perspective?

29 According to public choice theory, why might a government agency seek a larger budget than it strictly needs?

30 A local government allows several firms to compete for waste collection services. From a public choice perspective, the main expected benefit is:

31 A voter supports a costly public project because the personal benefit is visible, while the cost is spread across many taxpayers. This situation illustrates:

32 Which policy arrangement would a public choice theorist most likely support to reduce the risk of bureaucratic monopoly?

33 A ministry gives managers flexibility over staffing but evaluates them using measurable service outcomes. Which New Public Management feature is illustrated?

34 A government contracts a private company to operate a public bus route and monitors service standards through a formal contract. This is an example of:

35 Why might an NPM reform introduce benchmarking among public hospitals?

36 A government agency meets its target for processing applications quickly, but many applications are rejected inaccurately. What NPM limitation does this example reveal?

37 A city organizes neighborhood forums so residents help define the goals of a public safety program. This approach best reflects the New Public Service principle of:

38 Which action best distinguishes New Public Service from New Public Management?

39 A public manager refuses to treat residents merely as consumers because public decisions involve collective responsibilities and rights. This position is consistent with:

40 During a disaster, a government agency works with nonprofit groups, businesses, and residents to coordinate relief while maintaining accountability to the public. This best demonstrates:

41 A public agency adopts a technically efficient allocation model that improves average service delivery but systematically excludes politically weak neighborhoods. Which New Public Administration critique is most directly applicable?

42 Which administrative decision best reflects the New Public Administration principle of 'relevance' rather than merely improved internal efficiency?

43 An administrator argues that neutrality requires applying an identical eligibility rule even when historical barriers make access unequal. Which response is most consistent with New Public Administration?

44 Which sequence most accurately captures the broad intellectual movement across the three Minnowbrook conferences?

45 A scholar claims that Minnowbrook II simply repeated Minnowbrook I without addressing new institutional conditions. Which assessment is most defensible?

46 Which research design best embodies the orientation associated with Minnowbrook III?

47 Which statement most accurately distinguishes Minnowbrook III from a narrow New Public Management reform agenda?

48 A public bureau receives a fixed budget and expands its program even after marginal social benefits fall below marginal costs. Which public choice explanation is most applicable?

49 A concentrated industry gains a subsidy financed by a small tax imposed on millions of citizens. Public choice theory predicts that the subsidy is politically durable primarily because:

50 A proposed institutional reform gives residents multiple service providers, portable funding, and easy exit from underperforming agencies. Which public choice mechanism is the reform mainly designed to activate?

51 Which criticism most directly limits the use of public choice theory as a complete account of public administration?

52 An agency meets all contractually specified output targets while service quality declines because providers avoid complex cases. Which NPM weakness does this illustrate?

53 A government separates policy design from service delivery, introduces purchaser-provider contracts, and grants managers operational discretion. Which combination best identifies the reform logic?

54 Which evaluation would provide the strongest evidence that an NPM reform improved public value rather than merely reducing visible costs?

55 A public hospital is converted into an autonomous agency, but the ministry retains approval over staffing, procurement, and daily operations. Which conclusion is most justified?

56 Residents disagree about a redevelopment project, and officials facilitate deliberation rather than selecting the option with the highest aggregate willingness to pay. Which New Public Service principle is most evident?

57 Which accountability arrangement best fits the New Public Service rather than a narrowly managerial model?

58 A city invites nonprofit groups, residents, businesses, and agencies to co-produce a homelessness strategy, while elected officials retain final responsibility. Why is this arrangement consistent with New Public Service?

59 Which policy choice most clearly distinguishes New Public Service from both Public Choice Theory and New Public Management?

60 A digital consultation receives thousands of responses, but participation is dominated by affluent groups and officials treat the results as the public interest. What New Public Service correction is most appropriate?