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Street-Level Bureaucracy

Gender inequality at the street level explained: redoing gender through informal practices

·428 字·1 分钟
Polihot 公共行政 Street-Level Bureaucracy Gender Inequality Discretion Informal Practices Social Workers
PMR — pp. 1-29 2026-08-25 Original Gender inequality at the street level explained: redoing gender through informal practices Ofri Shalev Greenman, Einat Lavee Abstract This study examines whether gendered differences in discretion shape inequality among street-level bureaucrats (SLBs). Focusing on the provision of informal personal resources (IFRs) to clients, we analyzed 59 in-depth interviews with social workers in Israel. While both women and men engage in extensive informal practices, their scope and form differ. Two mechanisms drive the reproduction of inequality: invisibility versus visibility of IFRs, and boundary setting between personal and professional spheres. These findings reveal that discretion in implementation not only is gendered but also reproduces conventional hierarchies, intensifying gender inequality at the street level of public administration.

Accountability systems and coping in the bureaucratic environment

·353 字·1 分钟
Polihot 公共行政 Accountability Street-Level Bureaucracy Coping Conjoint Experiment Discretion
PMR — pp. 1-26 2026-08-01 Original Accountability systems and coping in the bureaucratic environment Christine H. Roch, Ellen V. Rubin Abstract Advocates for strengthening accountability in government assume stronger consequences will change bureaucratic behavior. This study considers whether more strict accountability regimes change bureaucrats’ discretionary efforts. We consider this puzzle using a conjoint experiment with teachers in New York State. Our results show street-level bureaucrats in high accountability settings prioritize low-performing clients, while street-level bureaucrats in moderate accountability settings prioritize clients exhibiting high levels of effort. Overall, teachers demonstrate a weak preference to provide extra assistance to students who are hardworking and low-performing.

Regional News, Regional Bias? Evidence From Media Discourses and Welfare Decisions in Germany

·822 字·2 分钟
Polihot 公共政策 公共行政 Regional Media Street-Level Bureaucracy Welfare Decisions Immigration Germany
PSJ — 2026-06-08 Original Regional News, Regional Bias? Evidence From Media Discourses and Welfare Decisions in Germany Stefanie Rueß Abstract ABSTRACT How do media representations of immigrants shape their treatment by street‐level bureaucrats? Despite a uniform federal legal framework, decision‐making varies substantially across local welfare offices. Though prior research links national news reporting and policy implementation, little is known about how regional variation in news reporting on immigration is linked to spatial variation in bureaucratic decision‐making. This is a key gap because regional media structures how residents perceive local developments and problems. I argue that street‐level bureaucrats are embedded within such a regional news environment, where reporting shapes their perception of regional immigration patterns and makes stereotypes cognitively accessible to them, influencing their decisions. I term this dynamic the regional media bias mechanism . To examine this phenomenon, I combine state‐level data on benefit reduction rates in Germany’s welfare program Citizen’s Benefit with regional newspaper articles (2010–2019). Leveraging topic modeling and panel data analysis, I show that regional narratives on rather positive topics of immigration are associated with more favorable administrative outcomes for immigrants, whereas frames emphasizing rather negative aspects correspond with stricter treatment. These results highlight the critical role of regional media in explaining regional variation in administrative decision‐making, thereby shaping policy implementation.

When Bureaucrats Deviate: Mission Motivation, Autonomy, and Policy Implementation in Thai District Governance

·646 字·2 分钟
Polihot 公共行政 Street-Level Bureaucracy Policy Implementation Mission Motivation Autonomy Thailand
GOV 39/3 2026-06-02 Original When Bureaucrats Deviate: Mission Motivation, Autonomy, and Policy Implementation in Thai District Governance Dan Honig, Eleanor F. Woodhouse Abstract ABSTRACT Drawing on interviews and survey data from street‐level bureaucrats (SLBs) in eight Thai districts, we examine how mission motivation and autonomy combine to shape key SLB behaviors: policy compliance, policy customization, self‐directed action, and pro‐social rule‐breaking. We focus on how SLBs navigate the tension between delivering “up” to Bangkok and delivering “down” to citizens when they perceive these demands to be in conflict. We find substantial variation in how bureaucrats respond to this dilemma, which is potentially mediated by their professional environment (peer and leader interactions) and individual traits (such as rebelliousness and creativity). Leveraging Thailand's unusual combination of high mission motivation and de facto decentralized discretion within a formally centralized system, we show how autonomy can create the space for bureaucrats to prioritize local welfare over strict compliance. In doing so, we highlight the psychological and organizational mechanisms that link mission motivation to SLB behavior and illuminate how de facto decentralization shapes the public administration citizens experience.

When Coproduction Meets Professionalism: Toward a Conceptual Framework for Understanding Challenges of Lay Input

·911 字·2 分钟
Polihot 公共行政 Coproduction Professionalism Street-Level Bureaucracy Lay Input Ethnography
PA — 2026-05-28 Original When Coproduction Meets Professionalism: Toward a Conceptual Framework for Understanding Challenges of Lay Input Rikke Kolding Abstract ABSTRACT Coproduction is an established element in public service provision, linked to positive outcomes such as increased service quality and quantity. Realizing these outcomes requires skills and motivation from street‐level professionals and lay actors alike. Nevertheless, research has long questioned professionals' willingness to engage in coproduction because lay input challenges their professionalism. However, existing research often treats lay input as a uniform, challenging factor, overlooking the possibility that professionals may perceive it differently depending on the interaction. To respond to these challenges more effectively, the article develops a conceptual framework addressing the research question: When do street‐level professionals perceive lay input as a challenge to their professionalism? The article studies coproduction in the design phase, particularly the active input of clients in interactions with street‐level professionals. It identifies three key aspects of interactions that influence the extent to which lay input challenges professionalism: the type of, need for, and communication of lay input. Contrary to the existing literature, the findings highlight that different forms of input exist within interactions that vary in how much they challenge professionalism. These findings are based on an interpretive ethnographic study conducted in two Danish daycare centers, comprising 58 semi‐structured interviews with childcare professionals and parents and 42 days of participant observation. The case serves as an informative case due to the extensive coproduction related to core pedagogical matters. The article informs targeted professional training, managerial practices, and flexible policy frameworks that help professionals anticipate, interpret, and integrate lay input more effectively.