In today's world, Efficiency dividend has acquired unprecedented relevance, becoming a topic of interest to a wide range of people and disciplines. Whether it is Efficiency dividend as a prominent figure in history, as a key concept in a field of study, or as a significant event today, his impact is undeniable. In this article, we will delve into the universe of Efficiency dividend, exploring its origins, evolution and its influence on various aspects of society. From its appearance to its contemporary relevance, Efficiency dividend has been the subject of analysis and debate, generating a vast wealth of knowledge that deserves to be explored in detail.
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An efficiency dividend is an annual reduction in resources available to an organization. It is usually applied as a percentage of operational (running) costs.
It has been used by the Australian Government on Australian Public Service departments and agencies since 1987. Some departments and agencies have been exempted.
A 1.25% efficiency dividend was introduced by the Bob Hawke Government in 1987–88. It was reduced to 1% from 1994–95 to 2004-2005 then increased to 1.25% from 2005 to 2006. For 2008-09 a one-off 2% efficiency dividend on top of the ongoing efficiency dividend was applied. In 2011-12 it was 1.5% and in 2012-13 another extra one-off 2.5% was applied.
Proponents of the efficiency dividend argue that it improves the cost effectiveness of the public sector, allows managerial flexibility in the allocation of resources, and is a good way to generate savings in the cost of public sector administration. Critics have described the efficiency dividend as a blunt instrument, a false economy, and lazy budgeting. Smaller agencies have also highlighted the difficulty in finding such savings.