What Are the Determinants of Public Sector Performance? A Meta-Regression Analysis

This article draws on the theory of effective government organizations to provide a theoretical context, utilizes data from 58 existing studies, and conducts meta-regression analyses to examine the determinants of public sector performance. It hypothesizes that the determinants of public sector performance are moderated by five contextual characteristics: performance measurement systems, institutions, public service motivation, external environment, and diversity management. The findings indicate that performance measurement systems, diversity management, and the external environment influence public sector performance. The findings highlight the importance of performance measurement systems that effectively monitor outcomes and organizational efficiency. Expanding beyond internal performance measures, diversity programs that enable managers to build culturally competent administrators, and attention to the external environment, all contribute to improving public sector performance. The findings validate existing studies and indicate the areas policymakers should prioritize to advance public sector performance.