Skip to main content
Log in

Micro-Level Public Entities’ Efficiency Reporting Using Combined Adaptation of Activity-Based Costing (ABC) and Free Disposable Hull (FDH) Analysis

  • Published:
Public Organization Review Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This paper offers a contribution responding to the challenge of making efficiency reports from public organizations intelligible to society. The proposed methodology is based on a combination of Activity Based Costing System and Free Disposable Hull performance analysis. Per-unit cost of outcomes are derived from annual budget using cost drivers defined in terms of internal resources distribution and public services demand. Efficiency is, then, evaluated based on benchmarked key performance indicators (KPI). A simulated application using limited data available for the Brazilian Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC) illustrates how the strategy could increase data meaningfulness from a citizens’ perspective.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Afonso A., Schuknecht L. and Tanzi, V. (2013). “Public sector efficiency: An international comparison”, ECB Working Paper Series No. 242.

  • ANAC – Anuário do Transporte Aéreo 2018 – https://www.anac.gov.br/assuntos/dados-e-estatisticas/anuario/2018.zip

  • ANAC – RASO 2018 – https://www.anac.gov.br/assuntos/paginas-tematicas/gerenciamento-da-seguranca-peracional/arquivos/RASO_2018_v4.pdf

  • ANAC – Relatório de Atividades 2018 – http://www.anac.gov.br/arquivos-de-referencia/publicacoes/relatorios-de-atividades

  • ANAC – Relatório de Gestão 2018 – https://www.anac.gov.br/acesso-a-informacao/auditorias/arquivos/2018/relatorio-de-gestao-2018.pdf/@@download/file/Relat%C3%B3rio%20de%20Gest%C3%A3o%20-%202018.pdf

  • Becker, J., Bergener, P. and Räckers, M. (2009). “Process-based governance in public administrations using activitybased costing”, M. A. Wimmer et al. (Eds.): EGOV 2009, LNCS 5693, Springer-Verlag pp. 176–187.

  • Bjørnenak, T. (2000). Understanding cost differences in the public sector - a cost drivers approach. Management Accounting Research, 11. https://doi.org/10.1006/mare.2000.0128

  • Bland, R. L. (2013). A budgeting guide for local government (3rd ed.). ICMA Press ISBN 978-0-87326-767-0.

    Google Scholar 

  • Boyle, R. (2006). “Measuring public sector productivity: Lessons from international experience”. CPRM discussion paper 35, Institute of Public Administration (IPA), Dublin.

  • Briner, A. and Noble (2003). “Activity-Based Costing for State and Local Governments”, Management Accounting Quarterly – Spring 2003, 4(3).

  • Buttross, T., & Schmelzle, G. (2003). Activity-based costing in the public sector. Encyclopaedia of Public Administration and Public Policy.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cherchye, L., Kuosmanen, T., & Post, T. (2000). What is the economic meaning of FDH? A reply to thrall. Journal of Productivity Analysis, 13, 263–267. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1007827126369

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Christensen, T., Lægreid, P., Roness, G., & Røvik, K. A. (2007). Organization theory and the public sector: Instrument, culture and myth. Taylor & Francis e-library ISBN13: 978-0-203-92921-6.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Cokins, G. (2006). Activity-based cost management in government (2nd ed.). Management Concepts ISBN 978-1-56726-181-3.

    Google Scholar 

  • Curristine, T., Lonti, Z., and Joumard, I. (2007). Improving Public Sector Efficiency: Challenges and Opportunities. OECD Journal on Budgeting, 7(1).

  • Jääskeläinen, A., & Laihonen, H. (2014). A strategy framework for performance measurement in the public sector. Public Money & Management, 34(5), 355–362.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jacobzone, S., Choi, C., & Miguet, C. (2007). "indicators of regulatory management systems", OECD working papers on public governance, 2007/4. OECD Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kouzmin, A., Löffler, E., Klages, H., & Korac-Kakabadse, N. (1999). Benchmarking and performance measurement in public sectors. International Journal of Public Sector Management, 12(2), 121–144.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lau, E., Lonti, Z., & Schultz, R. (2017). Challenges in the measurement of public sector productivity in OECD countries. International Productivity Monitor, 32, 180–195.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lonti, Z., and Woods, M. (2008), Towards government at a glance: Identification of Core data and issues related to public sector efficiency. OECD working papers on public governance, no. 7, OECD Publishing.

  • Mandl, U., Dierx, A. and Ilzkovitz F. (2008). “The effectiveness and efficiency of public spending”, Economic papers 301, European Commission, directorate-general for economic and financial Affairs, Brussels.

  • Matei, A., & Savulescu, C. (2009). The impact of reducing the administrative costs on the efficiency in the public sector. Munich Personal RePEc Archive https://mpra.ub.uni-muenchen.de/id/eprint/19018

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Maurel, C., Carassus, D., Favoreu, C., & Gardey, D. (2014). Characterization and definition of public performance: An application to local government authorities. Gestion et Management Public, 2(1), 23–44.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mergoni, A., & De Witte, K. (2021). Policy evaluation and efficiency: A systematic literature review. International Transactions in Operational Research. https://doi.org/10.1111/itor.13012

  • Mihaiu, D. M., Opreana, A., & Cristescu, M. P. (2010). Efficiency, effectiveness and performance of the public sector. Romanian Journal of Economic Forecasting, 4, 132–147.

    Google Scholar 

  • Oseifuah, E. K. (2014). Activity based costing (ABC) in the public sector: benefits and challenges. Problems and Perspectives in Management, 12(4), 581–588.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schultz, R., Arndt-Bascle, C., Davidson, P., & Gerloff, B. (2019). “Better indicators for better regulation: the OECD iREG experience”. ICE, Revista De Economía, (907). The International Federation of Accountants – IFAC (2015). International public sector accounting standards board - recommended practice guidelines: Reporting service performance information, The IFAC, New York.

  • Sharma, R., & Ratnatunga, J. (1997). Traditional and activity based costing systems. Accounting Education, 6, 337–345. https://doi.org/10.1080/096392897331406

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • The Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development - OECD (2007). "Towards Better Measurement of Government", OECD Working Papers on Public Governance, No. 1. OECD Publishing.

  • The Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development - OECD (2008). "Handbook on constructing composite indicators: Methodology and guide", OECD Working Papers on Public Governance. OECD Publishing.

  • The Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development - OECD. (2017). Government at a glance 2017. OECD Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • U.S. Department of Education. (2019). Cost allocation guide for state and local governments. Office of the Chief Financial Officer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Van Dooren, W., De Caluwe, C., & Lonti, Z. (2012). How to measure public administration performance: A conceptual model with applications for budgeting, human resources management, and open government. Public Performance & Management Review, 35(3), 489–508.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Diego Muniz Benedetti.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of Interest

There is no conflict of interest to disclose.

Ethical Approval

We declare that this article does not contain studies with human participants or animals, it has not been financed, and, it does not require permission from any person or organization.

Additional information

Publisher’s Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Benedetti, D.M., de Lima, D.V. Micro-Level Public Entities’ Efficiency Reporting Using Combined Adaptation of Activity-Based Costing (ABC) and Free Disposable Hull (FDH) Analysis. Public Organiz Rev 22, 1121–1138 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11115-021-00581-x

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11115-021-00581-x

Keywords

Navigation