The images of the Maltese state as projected through value for money audits undertaken by the Malta National Audit Office

Abstract

Value for Money Audits, have been carried out by the Malta National Audit office since the year 2000. Up to the end of 2012 forty-one VFM reports were issued on diverse topics covering most of the activities undertaken by the state and making recommendations in order to improve the effectiveness of these activities. The scope of this study was to use these forty-one reports in order to draw an image of the Maltese state through their analysis. Each of the reports was studied in detail and the prevailing images of the state were extracted and documented in a grid. The grid was then used in order to assess which of the images of the state are the most prevalent in the Maltese state. The most prevalent traditional images were those of Sovereignty and Paternalism. This study delved in detail into each of the individual images using the VFM audit reports as a basis. In the concluding chapter then, an overall image of the state was extracted. As a result of this study, two new images of the state were coined. These were found in the majority of VFM reports reviewed. One of these images, lniquia Parens, depicts the state as an unfair parent that treats the children showing most respect in a manner worst than it treats its disrespectful children. The second image that transpired through this study was that of the bad planning with which the state undertakes its activities.