Over-development of bureaucracy in ex-colonial countries

At the time of independence most ex-colonial countries have well-developed governmental institutions and a strong civil service; this facilitates the transition to self-government. But the continued professionalization and expansion of the civil service tends to outpace the growth of executive, legislative and judicial organs of government, and of parallel development of interest groups in the private sector. It also favours an apparent carry-over from the colonial period of attitudes of superiority and disdain toward the public, and a preoccupation with law-and-order considerations rather than with programmes of economic development and social welfare. Under conditions of economic scarcity, government posts are much sought after at the expense of the development of the private sector.