Handbook of Bureaucratic Autonomy

Bringing together an array of expert scholars, this perceptive Handbook presents an in-depth overview of bureaucratic autonomy across the globe. It examines the opportunities and implications of autonomy at the institutional, organizational and individual level, highlighting diverse perspectives as well as avenues for future research.

Exploring a variety of concepts, methods, and approaches to bureaucratic independence, this volume provides a comprehensive explanation of the agency model and delves into core issues such as measuring and explaining bureaucratic autonomy. Chapters draw on detailed case studies from Europe to Sub-Saharan Africa, analyzing the impact of commercialization, collaborative governance and policy ambiguity on political control. Raising key theoretical and empirical questions, the book ultimately underscores the need to consider normative issues including those surrounding accountability and the consequences of autonomy.

The Handbook of Bureaucratic Autonomy is an invaluable resource for students and academics in public administration and management, public policy, political science, regulation and governance, and organization theory. It will also greatly benefit policymakers and public sector administrators seeking a deeper understanding of developments in bureaucratic autonomy.