09692. MERIT PAY: FAILING TO LIVE UP TO THE PROMISE. Considers the theoretical and practical advantages and disadvantages to pay-for-performance systems implemented for groups of government employees under the provisions of the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978. Concludes that such systems are severely limited by a number of practical barriers to their implementation and also questions the theoretical basis behind their objectives. 10 pages, 24 footnotes, 8 bibliographic sources.