Accountability in Public Management Networks: An Analysis of Cost Monitoring in Chicago Municipal Networks |
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Authors: | David Mitchell Zachary T Mohr |
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Institution: | 1. School of Public Administration, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida, USA;2. Department of Political Science and Public Administration, University of North Carolina Charlotte, Charlotte, North Carolina, USA |
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Abstract: | Public management networks (PMNs) continue to proliferate as governance becomes more complex, and so does the need to hold them accountable. Agency and collaboration theories provide a solid foundation, but additional constructs are necessary to adapt to this dynamic era. Building from Bovens et al. (2008), the authors offer an ecological framework of third-party accountability that incorporates a number of prominent accountability theories under the same construct. Employing a mixed-methods research design that examines eight local PMNs in the Chicago region, the study finds that an exemplar accountability mechanism—additional cost monitoring—occurs more often in situations predicted by the framework. Additionally, qualitative interviews of network participants suggest that cost structures can differ by network type, which is verified quantitatively. |
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Keywords: | Public management network accountability cost |
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