Ingredients of institutional reputations and citizen engagement with regulators

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to examine the link between the reputational components of efficacy and moral reliability of institutions, and citizens' compliance with institutional recommendations. Research on bureaucratic reputations highlights the significance of positive political reputations based on credibility and legitimacy, but the impact of these components is not systematically isolated and studied. Here we draw insights from political and organizational psychology to move beyond a positive-negative valence-based approach of reputation, and highlight the different effect of efficacy and moral reliability components of reputation on citizens' cooperation, engagement in water saving activities, and levels of complaints. We use the Cypriot Water Authority as a case study and inquire how its institutional reputation influences Cypriot citizens' behaviour regarding water use. Our data was collected via a representative national survey administered to a random sample of 800 Cypriots in the spring of 2009 and show that favourable perceptions of particular components of the institutional reputation shape the levels of satisfaction with specific organizational outputs.

COVIDiSTRESS Global Survey dataset on psychological and behavioural consequences of the COVID-19 outbreak

“…Inevitably, these changes generated a variety of psychological responses in individuals, which in turn shaped the level of compliance with preventive measures. In fact, extant research on the factors that shape willingness to comply with public health efforts aimed at preventing or slowing the spread of epidemics has highlighted the importance of psychological and social factors 1 , 2 —for instance shared trust in state or health authorities 3 , 4 —in driving compliance with guidelines and restrictions. The implications of these complex factors to compliance with preventive measures imposed by different governments must be analysed in detail after the crisis.…”

A Multidimensional Reputation Barometer for Public Agencies: A Validated Instrument

“…While most authors studying reputation in the public sector draw on Carpenter's definition, and a coherent body of work is developing as a result, some conceptual departures from this are also emerging. For instance, some authors have emphasized the relevance of additional dimensions emerging from empirical work: Salomonsen, Verhoest, and Boye () identify the relevance of a processual dimension of reputation, in addition to the four dimensions discussed earlier; Lee and Van Ryzin () compile all of the dimensions into a single measurement with a high reported internal consistency; and Capelos et al () speak of two reputational components: a reputation for efficacy and for morality . Given the prevalence and influence of Carpenter's theoretical framework, however, in the development of our scale, we explicitly set out to identify and measure the four dimensions of reputation as identified in his work.…”

A reputation for what, to whom, and in which task environment: A commentary

“…Capelos et al . (2016) stay close to the original idea that reputations are not static and encompassing but dynamic and multidimensional. Their findings indeed show the value of treating reputations as multidimensional concepts.…”

“…By looking at the relationship between citizens' perceptions of different dimensions of an agency's reputation and citizen's behavior, Capelos et al . (2016) have taken a big step to further our understanding on the multidimensionality of reputation. Rather than using the dimensions suggested by Carpenter, they make a theoretical argument that an agency's reputation in the eyes of citizens consists of two main dimensions.…”

“…We discuss the importance of these themes for BRT and regulation studies, how Capelos et al . (2016) have dealt with the issue, and what avenues are open for future research.…”