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Modification of Public Policies by Street-Level Organisations

An Institutional Work Perspective

Bibliographic Data

ID2115805
AuthorsEric Breit (0000-0001-5069-7406, OsloMet – Oslo Metropolitan University), Tone Alm Andreassen (0000-0001-9976-3777, OsloMet – Oslo Metropolitan University), Robert H Salomon (OsloMet – Oslo Metropolitan University)
Year2016
Volume45
Issue4
Pages709-728
Publication date2016-10-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Social Policy (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0047-2794 • E-ISSN: 1469-7823
PublisherCambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1017/s0047279416000246
OpenAlexW2336999680
LanguageEN
Citations received18
References cited41

The literature on policy implementation is divided with regards to the impact of street-level bureaucrats on the implementation of public policies. In this paper, we aim to add to and nuance these debates by focusing on 'institutional work' - i.e. the creation, maintenance and disruption of institutions - undertaken by central authorities and street-level bureaucrats during public reform processes. On the basis of a case study of the organisational implementation of a retirement pension reform in the Norwegian Labor and Welfare Administration, we argue that institutional work is a useful heuristic device for conceptualising the variety of responses available to street-level bureaucrats during public reforms. We also argue that the responses demonstrate the impact of street-level bureaucrats in these reforms in the context of managerial control and regulation. Finally, we argue that the effectiveness of policy change is dependent on the institutional work of street-level bureaucrats and, in particular, on institutional work that supports the institutions created by politicians and public administrations

Bureaucracy · Context (archaeology) · Economics · Institutional theory · Management · Market economy · Perspective (graphical) · Political science · Politics · Public economics · Variety (cybernetics) · Welfare · Welfare reform · Work (physics) · Labor Movements and Unions · Public Administration · Public Policy and Administration Research · Social Policy and Reform Studies

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Unique citing works18
Citations per year2,57
Citation span2019 - 2026 (8)
Citation velocitycurrent
Highly citedNo
Citation typesNeutral: 17
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