The State, the Economy, and the Regions: Theories of Preference Formation in Times of Crisis

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Tatham, Michaeel; Bauer, Michael W.
• 署名单位: University of Bergen
• 刊物名称: JOURNAL OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION RESEARCH AND THEORY
• ISSN/ISSBN: 1053-1858
• DOI: 10.1093/jopart/muv035
• 发表日期: 2016
• 页码: 631-646
• 关键词: job insecurity; GENDER; Europe; performance; governance; POLITICS; socialization; institutions; COMPETITION; FEDERALISM

摘要

As a response to the sovereign debt crisis, European states have carried out various reforms. In this process, they have sought to readjust the balance between free-market logics and the role of government. These reforms are often implemented-and sometimes co-decided-by regional administrations. Little is known, however, about the governance preferences of the elite officials directing these administrations. This is paradoxical since regional administrations play a crucial role in the recovery strategies of European states. What are the views of regional administrative elites on the regulation of the economy, the role of government, and that of the free market? Are these views related to (1) early-life socialization, (2) educational pathways, (3) professional interests, or (4) the capacity of their own administration? To answer these questions, we assembled a unique dataset by interviewing 742 administrative elites from 63 regions and 11 countries. We find some supporting evidence for all four explanations. However, while the individual characteristics of these elites matter, contextual factors seem to matter more.