Implementing “new public management”: The case of employment services in Quebec

摘要

Abstract: This article describes a reform to improve delivery of state-funded employment services in the province of Quebec. It is based on a six-year field study conducted during the reform process and presents the reform's objective, the way it was implemented, and some of the lessons learned during the reform process. This study focuses on three points: the key steps that led to the implementation of an output-based contracting system between the state and non-profit organizations; why the process of implementing private-sector practices was unexpectedly long and complex; and the side-effects associated with the reform.