A Brief History of Public Agencies

Abstract

The concept of agency refers to an individual's ability to act, not just their intentions to do something. Agency concerns events that an individual is responsible for, meaning that those events would not have occurred without their intervention. The concept of public agency is derived from human agency, with the latter being the ability of an individual to act. Public agencies are usually established to carry out specific functions on behalf of the state or society. Agency theory has emerged to address the challenges of principals ensuring that agents carry out their duties as intended. This theory proposes that monitoring and setting objectives for agents can ensure that objectives are achieved. Overall, agency is an essential element of human essence, and its theories have been used to explain the relationships between individuals and organizations, including public agencies.