Street-level bureaucrats’ attitudes towards clients in discretionary decision-making

Evidence from the Norwegian labour and welfare administration

Bibliographic Data

ID6112907
AuthorsAndreea Alecu (0000-0003-0074-4782, Consumption Research Norway, Oslo Metropolitan University Centre for Welfare and Labour Research, Oslo, Norway, corresponding author), Talieh Sadeghi (0000-0002-7863-8552, OsloMet – Oslo Metropolitan University), Lars Inge Terum (0000-0002-4455-6882, OsloMet – Oslo Metropolitan University)
Year2025
Volume40
Issue4
Pages589-610
Publication date2025-10-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenuePublic Policy and Administration (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0952-0767 • E-ISSN: 1749-4192
PublisherSAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1177/09520767241299078
OpenAlexW4404351474
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited41

It is commonly assumed that the attitudes of street level bureaucrats (SLBs) towards benefit recipients influence the discretionary decisions they make. Although discretion in the policy process has been a contentious issue, the impact of bureaucrats’ attitudes has received limited scholarly attention. This study investigates the impact of attitudes on discretionary decision-making and whether the impact of attitudes is conditioned by the SLBs’ perception of recipients’ conduct, when sanctioning non-compliance of requirements among social assistance recipients. The study employs survey data from 925 bureaucrats within the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration, measuring four attitude components: cognitive, positive affective, negative affective, and behavioral attitudes. A vignette experiment allows assessing how sensitive discretionary decision-making is to SLBs’ perceptions of recipient conduct. The findings indicate that cognitive attitudes significantly impact discretionary decision-making and are sensitive to SLBs’ perceptions of the recipients’ personal responsibility. Prejudiced cognitive attitudes (viewing recipients as dishonest, manipulative, unpredictable, or stubborn) are associated with a greater tendency to attribute non-compliance to a lack of willingness, irrespective of external circumstances. The study contributes to a deeper understanding of discretionary decision-making and sheds light on the complex dynamics between SLBs’ attitudes and their perceptions of client attributes, offering new insight for public policy and administration

Business · Economics · Labour economics · Market economy · Norwegian · Political science · Public economics · Public relations · Welfare · Labor Movements and Unions · Law · Management and Organizational Studies · Public Administration · Public Policy and Administration Research

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