Introducing the Agency as a Reform and as an Instrument of Administrative Reform

Abstract

The article deals with the introduction of agency as administrative body and tool for administrative reforms. “Agencification” is a process where new agencies are created or where existing agencies are given more autonomy. Agencification is based on the classical distinction between policy formation and policy implementation. The idea is that policy formation should be handled by “core executives”, while policy implementation should be carried out by professional executive agencies with considerable managerial freedom and an extensive duty to report to the core the results of their performances.However, from the very start of the agencification the problem of balance between agency autonomy on the one hand and steering and control on the other emerged. Many authors claim that the reforms have led to a fragmented state. The agencies have become too autonomous in relation to their political superiors (vertical fragmentation), and their ability and willingness to work together in order to solve common problems have decreased (horizontal fragmentation). “What is now at the core of the debate is what institutional features give the best balance between autonomy and control”, OECD concludes its discussion about agencification (OECD 2005 p. 117). Reviewing the agencification practices in Britain and Sweden, some conclusions are drown, related to the possible rethinking of Bulgarian administrative reforms.