What is Left of the Public Administration: Public Employees between Old and New Recruitment Procedures

The quality of human capital in the public sector is a part of the ability to ensure achievement of the results for which the public administration was established. This essay analyses the current situation of Italian public employees, starting from some numerical data. Second, it investigates some consequences on administrative action arising from the conditions of public employees. Particular emphasis is placed on the predominance, within the administration, of a «pseudo-legal-administrative» culture. Finally, this study questions how the most recent reform of the recruitment procedure for the public sector contributes to shaping trends in public administration.