Problem: Government agencies were often plagued by corruption, patronage, and bureaucratic inefficiency. This resulted in mismanagement of public resources, favoritism, and a lack of accountability in government operations.
Solution: Progressive reformers pushed for civil service reform to professionalize government administration and reduce political patronage. The Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act established a merit based system for hiring and promoting federal employees based on competitive examinations rather than political connections.
Louis Brandeis: Brandeis was a lawyer, jurist, and progressive reformer who promoted efficiency in government and business operations. He advocated for regulatory reforms to combat monopolies and promote fair competition, emphasizing the importance of efficiency and innovation in a competitive market economy.
Herbert Croly: Croly was a political theorist and co founder of the progressive magazine "The New Republic." He argued for a more active role for government in promoting economic efficiency and social welfare, advocating for policies to regulate business practices and promote public investment in infrastructure and education.
Reformers were mostly successful at fostering efficiency
Progressive reformers advocated for various government reforms aimed at increasing efficiency and transparency. These included the implementation of civil service exams to ensure that government positions were filled based on merit rather than political favoritism.