Public Administration ETDs

Publication Date

5-1-1975

Abstract

The thesis begins by giving a background of the development of food and drug regulatory agencies. The immediate influence of political interests and special interests is shown. It is suggested that the real reason for inspection is to serve the interest of the industry and not the consumer. The departure from scientific judgements to discretionary expediencies is shown to have taken place early in the life of the Bureau of Chemistry (predecessor of the Food and Drug Administration).

The role of the State governments in the field of food and drug inspection is discussed. It is concluded that moves must be made to maintain and improve present technical competence of the State government personnel. Strong merit systems, pride in civil servants, and competitive salaries are suggested as areas needing attention. Substantial aggressive use of the provisions of the Intergovernmental Personnel Act is discussed as a tool for this task.

The effects of interest groups on regulatory agencies are explored. Although the relations that develop are a tangled web, the results are not always unhealthy from the consumer's point of view. The causes of such close relationships between the regulator and the regulated are presented. Changes that might make the regulatory agencies more responsive to the public need--instead of the captive of industry--are examined.

A number of ethical questions are discussed. One clear conclusion concerning ethics is reached--a strong personal value system is vital in guarding against ethical errors. The question of "public interest” is concluded to be a moral one. Standard procedures and explicit regulations are seen as forces prohibiting illicit influences. The final consideration of ethics was in regard to the limits of compromise and the responsibility to resign when one cannot accept the action of his superiors.

In the last chapter, change, innovation, and future needs of the coming decades are summarized. Three concepts are presented which could improve the public service in the light of new requirements. The systems approach, participative management, and operationalization of administrative reforms are suggested as partial answers to future expectations.

Degree Name

Public Administration

Level of Degree

Masters

Department Name

School of Public Administration

First Committee Member (Chair)

Albert H. Rosenthal

Second Committee Member

Donald Winston Smithburg

Third Committee Member

Leonard Arnold Stitelman

Language

English

Document Type

Thesis

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