Understanding Street-Level Bureaucracy (Broché)

"Much of the work of government is done at the street level, where public administrators meet clients and make crucial decisions for and about those clients. This book helps us greatly in understanding that level of government and its importance." Guy Peters, University of Pittsburgh, USA "This book provides a collection of state of the art contributions in the field of professionalism. It is indispensable for anyone interested in the functioning of front line workers, case workers and 'street level bureaucrats' in recent times." René Torenvlied, University of Twente, the Netherlands This wide-ranging edited volume provides a state of the art account of theory and research on modern street-level bureaucracy, gathering internationally acclaimed scholars to address the varying roles of public officials who fulfill their tasks while interacting with the public.
These roles include the delivery of benefits and services, the regulation of social and economic behavior, and the expression and maintenance of public values. Questions about the extent of discretionary autonomy and the feasibility of hierarchical control are discussed in depth, with suggestions made for the further development of research in this field. Hence the book fills an important gap in the literature on public policy delivery, making it a valuable text for students and researchers of public policy, public administration and public management.