Public Values and Public Service Motivation: Conceptual and Empirical Relationships

Lotte Bøgh Andersen, Torben Beck Jørgensen, Anne Mette Kjeldsen, Lene Holm Pedersen, Karsten Vrangbæk

    Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

    Abstract

    The literatures on public values (PV) and public service motivation (PSM) both address whether public service delivery is driven by something more than self-interest. They have developed separately, although they can benefit from insights developed by the other, and this article discusses conceptual and empirical relationships between them. Based on a survey of 501 public managers, we find that PSM and PV are associated empirically, but not in a manner allowing total integration. The conceptual discussion reveals how the two concepts cannot be totally separated, as values can be motivating and motivation is often oriented toward something desirable (e.g., values). This suggests that neither total separation nor integration is a fruitful strategy. Given that the concepts are related, the literatures may benefit from more awareness of the conceptual overlaps and differences.
    Original languageEnglish
    JournalAmerican Review of Public Administration
    Volume43
    Issue number3
    Pages (from-to)292-311
    ISSN0275-0740
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - May 2013

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