[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"detail-sidebar-cat-0-en-105":3,"doc-seo-587938-105":59,"doc-detail-587938-en":130},{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":6},0,"success",[7,13,18,23,28,33,38,43,48,51,55],{"id":8,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":10,"show_sort_weight":11,"slug":12},1,"Document","Story & Novel",90,"story-novel",{"id":14,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":15,"show_sort_weight":16,"slug":17},2,"Literature",80,"literature",{"id":19,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":20,"show_sort_weight":21,"slug":22},4,"Exam",70,"exam",{"id":24,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":25,"show_sort_weight":26,"slug":27},5,"Comic",60,"comic",{"id":29,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":30,"show_sort_weight":31,"slug":32},6,"Technology",50,"technology",{"id":34,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":35,"show_sort_weight":36,"slug":37},7,"Healthcare",40,"healthcare",{"id":39,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":40,"show_sort_weight":41,"slug":42},8,"Research & Report",30,"research-report",{"id":44,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":45,"show_sort_weight":46,"slug":47},9,"Religion & Spirituality",20,"religion-spirituality",{"id":46,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":49,"show_sort_weight":46,"slug":50},"World Cup","world-cup",{"id":52,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":53,"show_sort_weight":52,"slug":54},10,"Lifestyle","lifestyle",{"id":56,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":57,"show_sort_weight":24,"slug":58},19,"General","general",{"code":4,"msg":60,"data":61},"ok",{"site_id":62,"language":63,"slug":64,"title":65,"keywords":66,"description":67,"schema_data":68,"social_meta":123,"head_meta":125,"extra_data":127,"updated_unix":129},105,"en","command-and-cant-control-assessing-centralized-accountability-in-the-public-sector","Command and Can’t Control - Assessing Centralized Accountability in the Public Sector","","Along-established “command and control” management transmits information up a hierarchy and relies on centralized decision-making and oversight. This paper studies how centralized accountability is implemented at scale in Punjab, Pakistan. Using random variation in the intensity of accountability, it finds negligible impacts of the scheme’s de facto punishments on school or student outcomes. Detailed evidence from the education production function shows this key accountability component does not generate bureaucratic action toward improved government performance.",{"@graph":69,"@context":122},[70,84,105],{"@type":71,"itemListElement":72},"BreadcrumbList",[73,77,79,82],{"item":74,"name":75,"@type":76,"position":8},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",{"item":78,"name":9,"@type":76,"position":14},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/",{"item":80,"name":40,"@type":76,"position":81},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/research-report/",3,{"item":83,"name":65,"@type":76,"position":19},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/command-and-cant-control-assessing-centralized-accountability-in-the-public-sector/587938/",{"url":83,"name":65,"@type":85,"image":86,"author":91,"headline":65,"publisher":94,"fileFormat":97,"inLanguage":63,"description":67,"dateModified":98,"datePublished":99,"encodingFormat":97,"isAccessibleForFree":100,"interactionStatistic":101},"DigitalDocument",{"url":87,"@type":88,"width":89,"height":90},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/command-and-cant-control-assessing-centralized-accountability-in-the-public-sector/587938.png","ImageObject",300,407,{"name":92,"@type":93},"Bintang","Person",{"url":74,"name":95,"@type":96},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-11-06","2026-10-15",true,{"@type":102,"interactionType":103,"userInteractionCount":34},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":104},"ViewAction",{"@type":106,"mainEntity":107},"FAQPage",[108,114,118],{"name":109,"@type":110,"acceptedAnswer":111},"What management approach does the paper focus on?","Question",{"text":112,"@type":113},"The paper focuses on “command and control,” a hierarchical system where officials are expected to follow centrally determined directions or face punishment.","Answer",{"name":115,"@type":110,"acceptedAnswer":116},"Where is the system implemented and studied?",{"text":117,"@type":113},"The study examines a system-wide command-and-control delivery approach scheme in the education public administration of Punjab, Pakistan.",{"name":119,"@type":110,"acceptedAnswer":120},"What is the main finding about centralized accountability punishments?",{"text":121,"@type":113},"The paper shows that de facto punishments tied to the scheme’s accountability have negligible effects on school or student outcomes.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":83,"og:type":124,"og:title":65,"og:site_name":95,"og:description":67},"article",{"robots":126,"canonical":83},"index,follow",{"doc_id":128,"site_id":62},587938,1792063823,{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":131},{"doc_id":128,"user_id":132,"nickname":92,"user_avatar":133,"doc_module":4,"category_id":39,"category_name":40,"doc_title":65,"doc_description":67,"doc_content":134,"file_id":135,"file_url":136,"file_type":137,"file_size":138,"view_count":34,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":8,"is_downloadable":8,"audit_status":8,"page_count":139,"language":140,"language_code":63,"site_id":62,"html_lang":63,"table_of_contents":141,"faqs":142,"seo_title":143,"seo_description":67,"update_tm":129,"read_time":144,"preview_page_count":4},962085564381,"https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/davatar_6f874abed73319feea01a86fa6f0fab8","Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized  \n\n| Policy Research Working Paper 11200\u003Cbr>Command and Can’t Control Assessing Centralized Accountability in the Public Sector\u003Cbr>Saad Gulzar\u003Cbr>Juan Felipe Ladino\u003Cbr>Muhammad Zia Mehmood\u003Cbr>Daniel Rogger |  |  |  |  |\n| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |\n| | \u003Cbr>Development Economics\u003Cbr>Development Impact Group September 2025 | | |  |\n|  |  |  |  | A verified reproducibility package for this paper is available at [http://reproducibility.worldbank.org](http://reproducibility.worldbank.org) , click here for direct access. |\n\nPolicy Research Working Paper 11200  \nAbstract  \nAlong-established and widely used approach to management in government has been the transmission of information upa hierarchy, and centralized decision-making and oversight; colloquially known as ‘command and control’. This paper examines accountability in such a system implemented at scale in Punjab, Pakistan. Using random variation in the intensity of accountability of the scheme, the paper shows  \nthat the corresponding de facto punishments had a negligible impact on school or student outcomes. It uses detailed data on the education production function to show that this fundamental component of command-and-control approaches does not induce bureaucratic action towards improvements in government performance.  \nThis paper is a product of the Development Impact Group, Development Economics. It is part of a larger effort by the World Bank to provide open access to its research and make a contribution to development policy discussions around the world. Policy Research Working Papers are also posted on the Web at [http://www.worldbank.org/prwp. The authors maybe](http://www.worldbank.org/prwp. The authors maybe)[ ](http://www.worldbank.org/prwp. The authors maybe)[contacted at drogger@worldbank.org. A verified reproducibility package for this paper is available at](contacted at drogger@worldbank.org. A verified reproducibility package for this paper is available at) [http://reproducibility](http://reproducibility). [worldbank.org](worldbank.org), click here for direct access.  \nThe Policy Research Working Paper Series disseminates the findings of work in progress to encourage the exchange of ideas about development issues. An objective of the series is to get the findings out quickly, even if the presentations are less than fully polished. The papers carry the names of the authors and should be cited accordingly. The findings, interpretations, and conclusions expressed in this paper are entirely those of the authors. They do not necessarily represent the views of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development/World Bank and its affiliated organizations, or those of the Executive Directors of the World Bank or the governments they represent.  \nProduced by the Research Support Team  \nCommand and Can’t Control: Assessing Centralized  \nAccountability in the Public Sector *  \nSaad Gulzar, Juan Felipe Ladino,  \nMuhammad Zia Mehmood, Daniel Rogger†  \n\n|  | Authorized for distribution by Arianna Legovini, Director, Development Impact Group, Development Economics, World Bank Group |  |\n| --- | --- | --- |\n\nKeywords: Accountability, Bureaucracy, Education, Government  \nJEL codes: D73, H11, H83  \n*We gratefully acknowledge funding from the Blavatnik School of Government/Education Commission DeliverEd program, and the World Bank’s i2i initiative, Knowledge Change Program, and Governance Global Practice. We thank Belen Torino for excellent research assistance and the Punjab Program Monitoring and Implementation Unit for providing us with data and institutional details. All errors are our own. The findings, interpretations, and conclusions expressed in this paper are entirely those of the authors. They do not necessarily represent the views of the World Bank and its affiliated organizations, or those of the Executive Directors of the World Bank or the governments they represent.  \n†Gulzar: Department of Politica","cbCaib2PDXfIuGJJ","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaib2PDXfIuGJJ","pdf",3457337,71,"English","# Abstract\n# Introduction\n## Command-and-control accountability and incentives\n## Evidence gap and study approach","[{\"question\":\"What management approach does the paper focus on?\",\"answer\":\"The paper focuses on “command and control,” a hierarchical system where officials are expected to follow centrally determined directions or face punishment.\"},{\"question\":\"Where is the system implemented and studied?\",\"answer\":\"The study examines a system-wide command-and-control delivery approach scheme in the education public administration of Punjab, Pakistan.\"},{\"question\":\"What is the main finding about centralized accountability punishments?\",\"answer\":\"The paper shows that de facto punishments tied to the scheme’s accountability have negligible effects on school or student outcomes.\"}]","Command and Can’t Control - Assessing Centralized Accountability in the Public Sector | PDF",179]