This case details program analyst Gil Silver's attempts to reform the process of allocating government land to timber companies. Silver encounters resistance from entrenched stakeholders who exert significant political influence, and must make several radical decisions to enforce his preferred policy. This case examines the roles of a public servant in terms of its practical and ethical constraints. This case asks students to consider whether Silver acted within his rights as a public servant, and to assess possible different paths and outcomes
Notes
Originally Published InShipman, G., & Dobel, J. P. (2012). The limits of public service discretion: The silver affair. Seattle, WA: Evans School of Public Policy & Governance, University of Washington
