The effect of political alignment on street-level bureaucrat job satisfaction and motivation

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Piotrowska, Barbara Maria
• 署名单位: University of London; King's College London
• 刊物名称: GOVERNANCE-AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF POLICY ADMINISTRATION AND INSTITUTIONS
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0952-1895
• DOI: 10.1111/gove.12853
• 发表日期: 2024
• 关键词: metaanalysis; turnover

摘要

This paper examines how political alignment influences the job satisfaction and motivation of street-level bureaucrats (SLBs)-low-level frontline workers implementing policies while interacting directly with the public. I argue that political alignment affects SLBs' job satisfaction and motivation to work harder through three theoretical channels: (1) policy-driven effects, particularly demoralization from implementing disagreeable policies; (2) spill-over effects from other policy areas; and (3) political person-organization fit effects, which result in decreased pride in their employer. Using the International Social Survey Program data from 34 countries, and panel data from the German Socio-Economic Panel, tracking 880 respondents over 30 years, I find a robust link between political alignment and job satisfaction and motivation, and evidence for all three links. These findings underscore the importance of considering political alignment as a key factor in understanding and improving street-level bureaucrat performance beyond policy-specific and client-specific contexts.