SOCIO‐ECONOMIC CONDITIONS, CENTRAL POLICIES AND LOCAL AUTHORITY STAFFING LEVELS

This paper analyses whether central pressure on local authorities to cut staff has resulted in greater efficiency by concentrating reductions in the more heavily staffed authorities. A measure of staffing levels is derived which takes into account the different socio‐economic conditions faced by different authorities. The relationship between this measure and changes in staffing levels since 1980 is then analysed. The statistical results show that staff cuts have not fallen systematically on the more heavily staffed authorities. It is concluded that the indiscriminate impact of central government pressure to reduce staff indicates that a more informed and more selective policy towards public sector employment is required.