The government machinery is part of the developed political democracy, whereas a municipality is an old local community based on self-government. The public sector is neither a small nor a compact entity. In Finland the public expenditure is 57 per cent of the gross national product in 1997. What makes public management even more special is, among other things, the requirement for responsiveness. One has to pay attention to the needs of people who use welfare services and listen to the opinions of the citizens.
Public managers are responsible for the legality of their actions.
They have to obey the principles of official ethics. It is easy to notice, for example through the publicity and media that the actions of public administration are constantly looked after and controlled by several authorities. However many management models and techniques have several common features which can be transferred from private sector to the public. For example strategy thinking, group administration, reformations in the accountancy and the business economical follow-up system in the directing of performances are changes that have been adapted from private sector. In Finland people should also move more from one sector to another.