The Political Rationale of Administrative Reforms: Parliamentary Support of Output Control in Switzerland

✍ Scribed by Kuno Schedler; Lukas Schmucki

• Publisher: Swiss Political Science Association
• Year: 2009
• Tongue: German
• Weight: 592 KB
• Volume: 15
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 1420-3529
• DOI: 10.1002/j.1662-6370.2009.tb00121.x

✦ Synopsis

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.