Public Sector Reform from the Post-New Public Management Perspective: Review and Bibliometric Analysis

Abstract

The aim of this article is to evaluate the impact of public sector reform on academic literature from the post-NPM perspective. There have been several investigations into post-NPM public governance models and their impact on public sector reform. Yet, the research problem faced when analysing post-NPM literature is the lack of studies examining the multitude of possible public governance models (PGM) with sufficient comprehensiveness, especially in Central and Eastern European (CEE) states. In order to effectively address the research problem, a bibliometric analysis was performed, following three objectives: (i) an investigation into the evolution of PGM literature, (ii) identification of the core publications and authors based on publication frequency, and (iii) a citation network analysis (a historiograph), indicating the relations among the most-cited publications. It involved the identification of 16,374 publications in the Web of Science database, narrowed down to the 100 most cited between 1994 and 2017, and the application of the HistCite bibliometric analysis software, covering descriptive statistics, bibliometric indicators, and historiographic citation analysis. The research results reveal a growing research interest in the topic, as supported by bibliometric indicators. In addition, important differences as regards coverage and diffusion of individual post-NPM models are indicated. Namely, most publications focus on the ‘governance’ paradigm and subsequent critical rethinking, as indicated by several post-NPM modernisation proposals. Furthermore, we have shown that such evaluation of governance and related doctrines may be biased in favour of subjective, pluralistic Western ideas about governance, presumably limiting their impact within the CEE and several other regions. Hence, the regions’ particularities in terms of governance (post-socialism, Rechtsstaat culture, EU membership, small states, etc.) must be further taken into account in the post-NPM literature.

From Neo-Weberian to Hybrid Governance Models in Public Administration: Differences between State and Local Self-Government

“…Our results show the characteristics of at least five different public governance models characteristics are present in Slovenian public administration, where the basis of the state administration institutions are the practices of the Neo-Weberian model. Given that today several of its elements remain indispensable, like the hierarchy, professionalism, and political neutrality of the public administration operating according to legislation (Pollitt and Bouckaert 2011;Bauer and Trondal 2015;Ropret and Aristovnik 2019), followed by the practices of New Public Management, Good Governance and Hybrid models. Iacovino et al (2017) found similar results in their case study of the Tuscany Region where traditional public administration, New Public Management and public governance backgrounds coexist in the same context and at the same time.…”

“…(Weber 1946;Wojciech 2017;Dunleavy and Margetts 2015). Even though this model is already around 100 years old, some elements remain essential today, such as hierarchy, professionalism, and the political neutrality of the public administration that operates according to legislation (Pollitt and Bouckaert 2011;Bauer and Trondal 2015;Ropret and Aristovnik 2019;Kukovič and Justinek 2020). However, theory and practice had created deviations that questioned the credibility of traditional bureaucracies.…”

Bibliometric Review of Participatory Budgeting: Current Status and Future Research Agenda

“…To understand the evolution of academic contributions to the topic of participatory budgeting, we employed the combined research approach of Ropret and Aristovnik (2019), Agrifoglio et al (2020), andSpasenić et al (2022). The first phase refers to the identification of all relevant papers within the Web of Science database (WoS).…”

The Role of Agile Values in Enhancing Good Governance in Public Administration during the COVID-19 Crisis: An International Survey

“…The good governance model emerged as an upgrade of the bureaucratic (Weberian) governance model and the later New Public Management model, both including different variations (Agere 2000;Bevir 2011;Bevir et al 2003;Edgar et al 2006;Graham et al 2003;Kovač et al 2016;Rao 2013;Ropret and Aristovnik 2019;Smith 2007). The most significant advantage of the Weberian model was its ability to solve quite structured problems based on regulation and economies of scale.…”