To break a vicious circle

A recent report of the Economic and Social Council on “Jordan’s competitiveness in 2015” concluded that the country’s ability to compete with other countries, including underdeveloped ones, is being undermined by the huge size of its bureaucracy and inefficient public service, which impede economic growth.

This conclusion does not come as a big surprise to either Jordanians or foreigners engaged in business in Jordan. 

The council’s report says that the size of bureaucracy and public service is perhaps the largest in the world relative to the size of the population. 

It did not add, but it is implied, that this disproportionate size of bureaucracy is draining national resources and contributes to the galloping national debt that shows no sign of stopping.

Not to mention that when too many employees are doing the same job, they impede each other’s work and slow down the pace of public service.

The inevitable conclusion of the report is that there is a need for reforms, and fast.

That is easier said than done, in view of the widespread “wasta” (favouritism of sorts), the low productivity, the red tape, the misconception that employing more public servants is one way to combat unemployment.

These negative features combined spell disaster for economic development and slow down the export potential of the country.

They also discourage or outright impede foreign and even local investment. 

The problem was clearly pointed out. The question is, what to do about it?

Creating more commissions, with paid members, to reach the same conclusion is a waste of time and money.

The low wages offered by the government do not encourage the best in the country to take up public jobs. Low salaries invite people who want to work and produce the least.

The productivity of public servants is in a great part related to their salaries. Which brings to the fore the obvious: downsizing the bureaucracy enables the government to offer competitive wages, which means highly skilled employees will be tempted to take up jobs and that could be the solution to the inefficient public service.

No easy feat, certainly, but all our bright economy experts should come together and work out a solution to the problem of inflated bureaucracy and ineffective public performance.

Short of finding a solution, future reports will be more dismal and problems more serious.