metadata: authors: 0: author: Paul,Samuel
docna: 0: docna: Does voice matter? : for public
            accountability, yes
docty: Policy Research Working Paper
subtopic: Climate Change and Agriculture,Crops and Crop Management Systems,Labor Markets,Water and Food Supply,Hydrology,Water Supply and Sanitation Economics
teratopic: Poverty Reduction
abstracts: cdata!: Recent theory posits that accountability
            in public service can be enhanced by the use of
            "exit" and a "voice" mechanisms.  With
            exit mechanisms, users of public services can choose
            alternative sources of supply.  Exit mechanisms are viable
            when there is competition.  They are not viable for
            essential services for which government is the sole
            provider.  Voice mechanisms are the more likely option when
            the service providers is a monopoly.  With voice mechanisms
            - for example, public meetings, local representation on
            public committees, or collective action by user groups - the
            public seeks better performance from public service
            providers without opting for alternative sources of supply.
            Considerable research has been done on how and whether exit
            mechanisms improve organizations' performance and
            accountability.  Little research has been dome on whether
            voice mechanisms make service providers more accountable.
            The author addresses that issue by investigating whether
            providers of irrigation services in Indonesia were more
            accountable when the public used voice mechanisms.  The
            author asked these questions: Did the use of voice improve
            public accountability in irrigation services?  If
            accountability improved, did service outcomes also improve?
            The author focused on how voice works and the mechanisms
            through which it influences accountability.  The author
            found that water user associations did make providers of
            irrigation services more accountable and that crop intensity
            increased as a result.
repnme: repnme: Does voice matter? : for public
            accountability, yes
display_title: Does voice matter : for public
            accountability, yes
listing_relative_url: /research/1994/12/697829/voice-matter-public-accountability-yes
topicv3: Water m1326522 137,Crop Production m1326627 174,Water Allocation and Water Economics
            m1326745 427,Water Demand Management m1326746 1064,Production Frontier m1503947 2688
publishtoextweb_dt: 2010-07-01T00:00:00Z
historic_topic: Poverty Reduction
origu: Development Economics and Chief Economist
no_of_pages: 56
author_keys: 0: author_key: 142025
model_extractions: I POLICY RESEARCH WORKING PAPER 1388

# Summary findings

Recent theory posits that accountability in public service can be enhanced by the use of "exit' and "voice" mechanisms.

With exit mechanisms, users of public services can choose alternative sources of supply. Exit mechanisms are viable when there is competition. They are not viable for essential services for which government is the sole provider.

Voice mechanisms are the more likely option when the service provider is a monopoly. With voice mechanisms -for example, public meetings, local representation on public committees, or collective action by user groups - the public seeks better performance from public service providers without opting for alternative sources of supply.

performance and accountability. Little research has been done on whether voice mechanisms make service providers more accountable.

Paul addresses that issue by investigating whether providers of irrigation services in Indonesia were more accountable when the public used voice mechanisms. He asked these questions: Did the use of voice improve public accountability in irrigation services? If accountability improved, did service outcomes also improve? He focused on how voice works and the mechanisms through which it influences accountabiliry.

He found that water user associations did make providers of irrigation services more accountable and that crop intensity increased as a result Considerable research has been done on how and whether exit mechanisms improve organizations' This paper-a productof the Financeand Private Sector Dcvelopment Division, Policy Rcsearch Dcpartment-is partof alargcr cffort in the department to investigate the influencc of institutions on policy outcomes. The study was funded by the Bank's Research Support Budget under the research project 'Strengthening Accountability in Public Services' (RPO _677-65)._ Copies of the paper arc available free from the World Bank, 18 18 H Strcet NW, Washington, DC 20433. Please contact Bill Moore, room _N9-055,_ extension 35261 _(51_ pages). December 1994.

ne _Pohcy Pzsearck Workmg Producd_ by **_thle_** Policy _Rese_ aorh D _pencouragissem_ inatocna e _nes the of ar demlopmenr ue.An oNectfix of the srzs is to get thcfindingsour quickly. even if the pturions are km than fulypoished. 7he - pqapes crry die nacs of tl7c auirbos and should be c and cited accordin*. Thbc firitngs. ictrprciarns, and conclusions are thc autors' own and should not be attributed to fhe World Bankr it Ewuciv Board of Dires, or any of its member countis_ Produced by the Poiicy Research Dissemination Center