Ministers Prioritize Scrapping Agencies Over Performance

This article extends agency survival theory to parliamentary systems. It finds that ministers often terminate agencies created by predecessors—a move amplified when media attention is high—even if these agencies perform well or meet targets.

Research Context

• Examines transitions in government and ministerial influence
• Sets aside the traditional separation of powers framework

What We Found

• Political motivations trump performance metrics
• Replacement agencies show no improvement over those terminated

Why This Matters

This suggests that agency survival depends primarily on political considerations rather than functional effectiveness.