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The rigidity of the public sector does not merely reduce the quality of services. It also discourages innovation. In the private sector innovative firms routinely experiment with new business models, measure the success of those models and then expand successful ones. But whenever public-sector managers have tried to do the same—by establishing magnet schools that focus on certain subjects, or charter schools with longer teaching days, for example—the unions have opposed them. In France they have blocked any attempt to introduce more flexibility into the country’s highly centralised education system, or indeed to change it at all.
Only Germany provides a chink of light. There, although around 60% of public-sector workers are unionised, wage increases in the public sector have lagged behind those in the private sector. And though civil servants, who make up nearly half the public-sector workforce, enjoy both special pension schemes and job security, they are not allowed to strike. Indeed, the idea of going on strike for political reasons is unthinkable among all public-sector workers in Germany.

The battle ahead
Public-sector unions now face the biggest challenge in their history. Governments almost everywhere—particularly in the rich world—are being forced to cut back public spending. Many governments (for example in Ireland, Greece and Spain) are cutting public-sector pay. Others (for example in Japan and America) are freezing it. Greece is increasing the retirement age from 58 to 63 and making it possible to fire public servants. Britain is cutting government departments by as much as a quarter, and is reviewing pensions.

A. 어휘
rigidity 단단함, 완고함, 경직성. reduce 감소시키다.
discourages 방해하다, 沮止(저지)하다. innovation 혁신.
measure 측정하다. magnet schools 학군에 관계없이 누구나 다닐 수 있는 큰 학교.
chink 갈라진 틈.