The United Kingdom Bureaucracy

the 18th century department of excise developed sophisticated bureaucracy. pictured, custom house, london.

a modern form of bureaucracy evolved in expanding department of excise in united kingdom during 18th century. relative efficiency , professionalism in state-run authority allowed government impose large tax burden on population , raise great sums of money war expenditure. according niall ferguson, bureaucracy based on recruitment examination, training, promotion on merit, regular salaries , pensions, , standardized procedures . system subject strict hierarchy , emphasis placed on technical , efficient methods tax collection.

instead of inefficient , corrupt system of tax farming prevailed in absolutist states such france, exchequer able exert control on entire system of tax revenue , government expenditure. late 18th century, ratio of fiscal bureaucracy population in britain approximately 1 in 1300, 4 times larger second heavily bureaucratized nation, france. thomas taylor meadows, britain s consul in guangzhou, argued in desultory notes on government , people of china (1847) long duration of chinese empire solely , altogether owing government consists in advancement of men of talent , merit only, , british must reform civil service making institution meritocratic. influenced ancient chinese imperial examination, northcote–trevelyan report of 1854 recommended recruitment should on basis of merit determined through competitive examination, candidates should have solid general education enable inter-departmental transfers, , promotion should through achievement rather preferment, patronage, or purchase . led implementation of majesty s civil service systematic, meritocratic civil service bureaucracy.