The big difference between States and private sectors

Thursday 15th July 2010, 3:00PM BST.

JEP columnist and Business Brief editor Peter Body takes a look at the difference between the States sector, which provides essential services to the public, and the private sector which doesn’t.

‘There is absolutely no comparison – and I will repeat that just in case there’s any doubt about what I’m trying to say – there is no comparison – between running a business and running a public sector organisation.

‘To begin with you cannot run a States department according to the state of the economic cycle. Just imagine going to the Accident and Emergency department and being told, I’m sorry, there’s no one available to see you because we’re in the middle of a recession.

‘Or do you expect your children to receive a poorer education just because the economy is going to fall 2% this year?

• Read the full column in today’s Jersey Evening Post

1
428 CJ

July 15, 2010 at 10:19 pm

Maybe if we applied private business principles to the States we wouldn’t see profligate examples of spending waste and lack of control and accountability as reported in the JEP today. Hopefully we can hear your view next week. Also easy to blame the private sector for the economic woes and completely ignore the elephant in the room – increase in States spending. That is the drag on Jersey’s ability to create wealth

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