Characteristics of public administration

1. Serving public interest

The first characteristic of public administration is to serve the interest of people through service
provision. Provision of important needs to people ranges from health, security, development,
counseling, and management duties.

2. Transparency in government

Public administration acts as a tool for addressing local government transparency, providing

adequate information flow, strong civil society, effective and transparent  financial management
systems, and procurement regulations.

Transparency is a fundamental element of abolishing corruption in the public sector. A

transparent way of management in governance is important to local governments and the
communities they serve because corruption threatens good governance, leads to the misallocation
of resources, harms people, public planning, and private sector development, and also distorts
public policy.

 3. Equality in society

Public administration provides equality’ (or ‘equal’) which include group of different objects,
persons, processes, or circumstances that have the same qualities.

4. Responsible for state administrative functions

The main functions of public administration in a state are maintaining law, order, and

stability, resolving various kinds of disputes through the legal system, providing common
defense, and looking out for the welfare of the population in ways that are beyond the means of
the individual.

5. Tax collection on behalf of the government

Government through public administration, collect tax. Taxes are crucial

because governments collect this money and use it to finance social projects. A tax is collected
from individuals and corporations via direct tax and indirect tax. Taxes go to funding health
services such as social healthcare, medical research, social security, education sector,
construction of roads.

6. Focuses on service and not on money-making

The characteristic of public administration is that does not pursue a profit, but the satisfaction of
social needs. Profit is an essential part of businesses. Meanwhile, public administration focuses
on providing service.

7. Enhances public sector efficiency

Characteristics of public administration are to improve public sector efficiency.

8. Supports the private sector through public-private partnerships

Public administration helps to enhance economic development in the country through

partnerships between the government and private sector and supports the national vision of
the country.

9. Ensures compliance with public policies

Public administration ensures compliance with public policies because Public policy is not
important if employees and people do not follow it. The staff and the public may not easily adapt
to changes in policy and may resist to change.