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The Political Rationale of Administrative Reforms: Parliamentary Support of Output Control in Switzerland |
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| Authors: | Kuno Schedler Lukas Schmucki |
| Affiliation: | 1. University of St. Gallen Kuno Schedler is Professor for Business Economics and Director of the Public Management Department at the University of St. Gallen, Switzerland. His main areas of research are politics and strategy, comparative public management and public management reform. As a researcher he has been profiled by international and national publications and as an editor of the International Public Management Journal and the International Public Management Review. Institute for Public Services and Tourism, University of St. Gallen, Dufourstrasse 40a, CH-99000 St. Gallen, Switzerland. Phone: +441 (00)71 224 25 25;2. Email: kuno.schedler@unisg.ch. Institute for Public Services and Tourism, University of St. Gallen, Dufourstrasse 40a, CH-99000 St. Gallen, Switzerland. Phone: +441 (00)71 224 25 25;3. Email: lukas.schmucki@unisg.ch.;4. University of St. Gallen Lukas Schmucki is a research assistant and doctoral candidate at the University of St. Gallen, Switzerland. His main area of research is the relationship between politics and public administrations. He writes a dissertation on change processes of parliaments in the course of comprehensive dministrative reforms. Institute for Public Services and Tourism, University of St. Gallen, Dufourstrasse 40a, CH-99000 St. Gallen, Switzerland. Phone: +441 (00)71 224 25 25 |
| Abstract: | Sufficient political support is a sine qua non of comprehensive administrative reforms. However, while the pros and cons of administrative reform measures have been extensively discussed in theory and research, only little is known about the political process which determines whether or not administrative reforms are implemented at all. Against this background, the article aims at throwing light on the politicians' backgrounds and mindsets which account for their attitude towards administrative reforms. Referring to the theories of voting behaviour, socio-structural, socio-psychological, and rational choice factors by Swiss members of parliament are tested for their impact on the attitude towards new output control policies as part of wider administrative reforms. Findings help us understand the different fates of administrative reforms in the legislative process, and they make it possible to draw some essential conclusions for the design and implementation of future administrative reforms. In consequence of this, the article's findings are a significant contribution for the study of the political rationale of administrative reforms as well as the characteristics of political rationale in general. |
| Keywords: | Political Rationale Administrative Reform Parliamentary Support Voting Behaviour |