Thorbjørn Sejr Guul
Biographic Data
| ID | 353396 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Thorbjørn Sejr Guul |
| GIVEN NAMES | Thorbjørn Sejr |
| FAMILY NAME | Guul |
| SIGNATURE | GUUL T S |
| AFFILIATIONS | Aarhus University |
| ORCID | 0000-0003-2355-2580 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 10 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 111 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 10 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2018 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2025 |
| H-INDEX | 4 |
A learning approach to the governance of professionals. Field experimental evidence
Performance management is used by governments worldwide to incentivize professionals in schools and other public organizations. Yet, much research shows that these incentives may generate perverse dysfunctional effects. Based on a Bayesian model of learning, we propose that simply providing professional teachers with performance information—without changing their extrinsic incentives—may be enough to make them update their beliefs about their stu…
Does Ethnic Similarity Increase Well-Being
How do people react to ethnic (dis)similarity? Whereas prior studies on ethnic diversity and intergroup contact often focus on interpersonal outcomes such as prejudice and trust, we turn to an essential intrapersonal phenomenon: well-being. We argue that ethnic similarity in the local setting increases well-being for both the ethnic majority and ethnic minority but for theoretically different reasons. To test our argument, we combine Danish regis…
Political Solutions to Discriminatory Behavior
Discriminatory treatment of minorities by public authorities remains a serious challenge and breaks with the central principles of impartiality. However, little research examines how discrimination can be reduced through political means. This article argues that discrimination occurs when the perceived marginal cost of serving a minority citizen exceeds the funding per user and/or when excess of demand forces the provider to prioritize which citi…
Liberté, Égalité, Crédibilité: An experimental study of citizens' perceptions of government responses to Covid ‐19 in eight countries
During a global pandemic, individual views of government can be linked to citizens' trust and cooperation with government and their propensity to resist state policies or to take action that influences the course of a pandemic. This article explores citizens' assessments of government responses to COVID‐19 as a function of policy substance (restrictions on civil liberties), information about performance, and socioeconomic inequity in outcomes. We…
Quasi-Market Competition in Public Service Provision: User Sorting and Cream-Skimming
Quasi-markets that introduce choice and competition between public service providers are intended to improve quality and efficiency. This article demonstrates that quasi-market competition may also affect the distribution of users. First, we develop a simple theoretical framework that distinguishes between user sorting and cream-skimming as mechanisms through which quasi-markets may lead to high-ability users becoming more concentrated among one …
How first-language instruction transfers to majority-language skills
With an increasing number of immigrant children in many countries, questions of how to prepare them for further education become highly salient. Few studies have examined the effect of first-language instruction on children’s engagement in school and how that may later transfer into better majority-language outcomes. A randomized controlled trial in Denmark (n = 230) took an asset-based approach to students’ cultural and linguistic backgrounds. W…
Creaming among Caseworkers: Effects of Client Competence and Client Motivation on Caseworkers’ Willingness to Help
Frontline employees cope with high workloads and limited resources by directing their work attention and efforts toward particular clients. Yet , the role of client attributes in frontline employees’ efforts to help clients remains undertheorized and empirically understudied. Using a survey experimental vignette design (2 × 2 factorial) among 1 , 595 Danish caseworkers , the authors of this article provide new knowledge on how two generic nondemo…
Does Good Performance Reduce Bad Behavior? Antecedents of Ethnic Employment Discrimination in Public Organizations
Equal treatment is a key feature of modern bureaucracy. However, several studies have shown that public organizations discriminate against ethnic and racial minorities to different degrees. Which organizational features explain differences in discrimination is largely unknown. This article proposes that organizational performance relates to an organization's likelihood of engaging in employment discrimination and argues that poor‐performing organ…
Reducing Minority Discrimination at the Front Line—Combined Survey and Field Experimental Evidence
Despite laws of universalistic treatment, bureaucrats have been shown to discriminate against minorities. A crucial question for public administration is how bureaucracies can be organized in ways that minimize illegitimate discrimination. Especially, since theories suggest that prejudices happen unintentionally and particularly under high workload, bureaucrats’ working conditions may be important. Four randomized experiments support the notion t…
The Individual‐Level Effect of Gender Matching in Representative Bureaucracy
A substantial literature links passive bureaucratic gender representation to better outcomes for represented citizens. However, because existing studies have been carried out primarily at the organizational level, it is not known whether these effects are caused by individual‐level interaction or by organizational processes. This article investigates whether gender matching in individual relationships affects citizen outcomes. The context of the …
Reducing Minority Discrimination at the Front Line—Combined Survey and Field Experimental Evidence
Despite laws of universalistic treatment, bureaucrats have been shown to discriminate against minorities. A crucial question for public administration is how bureaucracies can be organized in ways that minimize illegitimate discrimination. Especially, since theories suggest that prejudices happen unintentionally and particularly under high workload, bureaucrats’ working conditions may be important. Four randomized experiments support the notion t…
Does Good Performance Reduce Bad Behavior? Antecedents of Ethnic Employment Discrimination in Public Organizations
Equal treatment is a key feature of modern bureaucracy. However, several studies have shown that public organizations discriminate against ethnic and racial minorities to different degrees. Which organizational features explain differences in discrimination is largely unknown. This article proposes that organizational performance relates to an organization's likelihood of engaging in employment discrimination and argues that poor‐performing organ…
Liberté, Égalité, Crédibilité: An experimental study of citizens' perceptions of government responses to Covid ‐19 in eight countries
During a global pandemic, individual views of government can be linked to citizens' trust and cooperation with government and their propensity to resist state policies or to take action that influences the course of a pandemic. This article explores citizens' assessments of government responses to COVID‐19 as a function of policy substance (restrictions on civil liberties), information about performance, and socioeconomic inequity in outcomes. We…
Quasi-Market Competition in Public Service Provision: User Sorting and Cream-Skimming
Quasi-markets that introduce choice and competition between public service providers are intended to improve quality and efficiency. This article demonstrates that quasi-market competition may also affect the distribution of users. First, we develop a simple theoretical framework that distinguishes between user sorting and cream-skimming as mechanisms through which quasi-markets may lead to high-ability users becoming more concentrated among one …
Political Solutions to Discriminatory Behavior
Discriminatory treatment of minorities by public authorities remains a serious challenge and breaks with the central principles of impartiality. However, little research examines how discrimination can be reduced through political means. This article argues that discrimination occurs when the perceived marginal cost of serving a minority citizen exceeds the funding per user and/or when excess of demand forces the provider to prioritize which citi…
How first-language instruction transfers to majority-language skills
With an increasing number of immigrant children in many countries, questions of how to prepare them for further education become highly salient. Few studies have examined the effect of first-language instruction on children’s engagement in school and how that may later transfer into better majority-language outcomes. A randomized controlled trial in Denmark (n = 230) took an asset-based approach to students’ cultural and linguistic backgrounds. W…
The Individual‐Level Effect of Gender Matching in Representative Bureaucracy
A substantial literature links passive bureaucratic gender representation to better outcomes for represented citizens. However, because existing studies have been carried out primarily at the organizational level, it is not known whether these effects are caused by individual‐level interaction or by organizational processes. This article investigates whether gender matching in individual relationships affects citizen outcomes. The context of the …
Does Good Performance Reduce Bad Behavior? Antecedents of Ethnic Employment Discrimination in Public Organizations
Equal treatment is a key feature of modern bureaucracy. However, several studies have shown that public organizations discriminate against ethnic and racial minorities to different degrees. Which organizational features explain differences in discrimination is largely unknown. This article proposes that organizational performance relates to an organization's likelihood of engaging in employment discrimination and argues that poor‐performing organ…
Reducing Minority Discrimination at the Front Line—Combined Survey and Field Experimental Evidence
Despite laws of universalistic treatment, bureaucrats have been shown to discriminate against minorities. A crucial question for public administration is how bureaucracies can be organized in ways that minimize illegitimate discrimination. Especially, since theories suggest that prejudices happen unintentionally and particularly under high workload, bureaucrats’ working conditions may be important. Four randomized experiments support the notion t…
Creaming among Caseworkers: Effects of Client Competence and Client Motivation on Caseworkers’ Willingness to Help
Frontline employees cope with high workloads and limited resources by directing their work attention and efforts toward particular clients. Yet , the role of client attributes in frontline employees’ efforts to help clients remains undertheorized and empirically understudied. Using a survey experimental vignette design (2 × 2 factorial) among 1 , 595 Danish caseworkers , the authors of this article provide new knowledge on how two generic nondemo…
Quasi-Market Competition in Public Service Provision: User Sorting and Cream-Skimming
Quasi-markets that introduce choice and competition between public service providers are intended to improve quality and efficiency. This article demonstrates that quasi-market competition may also affect the distribution of users. First, we develop a simple theoretical framework that distinguishes between user sorting and cream-skimming as mechanisms through which quasi-markets may lead to high-ability users becoming more concentrated among one …
How first-language instruction transfers to majority-language skills
With an increasing number of immigrant children in many countries, questions of how to prepare them for further education become highly salient. Few studies have examined the effect of first-language instruction on children’s engagement in school and how that may later transfer into better majority-language outcomes. A randomized controlled trial in Denmark (n = 230) took an asset-based approach to students’ cultural and linguistic backgrounds. W…
Liberté, Égalité, Crédibilité: An experimental study of citizens' perceptions of government responses to Covid ‐19 in eight countries
During a global pandemic, individual views of government can be linked to citizens' trust and cooperation with government and their propensity to resist state policies or to take action that influences the course of a pandemic. This article explores citizens' assessments of government responses to COVID‐19 as a function of policy substance (restrictions on civil liberties), information about performance, and socioeconomic inequity in outcomes. We…
Political Solutions to Discriminatory Behavior
Discriminatory treatment of minorities by public authorities remains a serious challenge and breaks with the central principles of impartiality. However, little research examines how discrimination can be reduced through political means. This article argues that discrimination occurs when the perceived marginal cost of serving a minority citizen exceeds the funding per user and/or when excess of demand forces the provider to prioritize which citi…
A learning approach to the governance of professionals. Field experimental evidence
Performance management is used by governments worldwide to incentivize professionals in schools and other public organizations. Yet, much research shows that these incentives may generate perverse dysfunctional effects. Based on a Bayesian model of learning, we propose that simply providing professional teachers with performance information—without changing their extrinsic incentives—may be enough to make them update their beliefs about their stu…
Does Ethnic Similarity Increase Well-Being
How do people react to ethnic (dis)similarity? Whereas prior studies on ethnic diversity and intergroup contact often focus on interpersonal outcomes such as prejudice and trust, we turn to an essential intrapersonal phenomenon: well-being. We argue that ethnic similarity in the local setting increases well-being for both the ethnic majority and ethnic minority but for theoretically different reasons. To test our argument, we combine Danish regis…
Political science (6 works) · Psychology (5 works) · Business (4 works) · Law (4 works) · Computer Science (3 works) · Demographic economics (3 works) · Economics (3 works) · Gender Diversity and Inequality (3 works) · Law (3 works) · Names, Identity, and Discrimination Research (3 works)