In 2003, the National Commission on the Public Service, chaired by Paul Volcker, issued a report detailing current problems within the federal government and recommending changes in its organization, leadership, and operations. High-Performance Government: Structure, Leadership, Incentives (RAND) suggests practical ways to implement the recommendations and defines a research agenda for the future.

Edited by Robert Klitgaard (Pardee RAND Graduate School) and Paul C. Light (New York University and the Brookings Institution), this collection of essays calls for changes in the way senior federal officials are nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate, and the way other employees are hired, paid and given performance incentives. It also calls on individual federal agencies to tailor their organizational structures, policies, and leadership development programs to individual agency needs.

On January 13, 2005, OSI hosted a presentation by Robert Klitgaard to mark the publication of High-Performance Government. A PDF version of the book is available on the RAND website.