Matthias Döring, University of Southern Denmark

Ayesha Masood, Lahore University of Management Sciences

Johan Sandén, Södertörn University

Administrative burdens—the learning, compliance, and psychological costs citizens face when interacting with government—have become a significant research area. These burdens disproportionately affect vulnerable groups and threaten administrative equity, particularly in welfare systems. Scholars are increasingly investigating strategies to reduce or mitigate these burdens, including fostering citizen resources through intermediaries and improving organizational design and communication practices.

This special issue seeks contributions examining burden-reduction initiatives undertaken by various actors across different contexts and levels of governance. It welcomes research investigating how public organizations, managers, and street-level bureaucrats can reduce administrative burdens, which interventions are effective, whether they benefit all groups equally, and how burden-reduction efforts are perceived within public administration. The issue aims to generate societal impact by addressing challenges relevant to practitioners and policymakers working to reduce administrative burdens.

Appel publié par International Journal of Public Sector Management. Voir l'appel sur le site de l'éditeur. Fiche de l'appel sur kerostig.

Potential topics

• Digital initiatives to reduce burdens, including algorithms, automation, and AI
• How burden-reduction initiatives are initiated and defined - and by whom
• Initiatives aimed at preventing administrative limbo or repeated referrals
• How do different public organizations react to and enact burden reduction strategies across policy sectors?
• How do street-level bureaucrats perceive, avoid, or create burden reduction strategies?
• How do different types of intermediaries (private companies vs. NGOs vs. public intermediaries) support citizens in their attempt to overcome burdens?
• The relationship between burden-reduction interventions and social inequalities
• What is the relationship between leadership and the responsiveness to burden reduction strategies?
• The interplay between bureaucratization and administrative processes in producing burdens
• How do administrative reforms affect administrative burden?
• Which role do burden reduction strategies play in the political debate? Is there a connection to political action?
• The materiality of burden reduction, administrative burdens, and responses.

Timeline

• October 31, 2026: Opening date for manuscripts submissions
• February 28, 2027: Closing date for manuscripts submission