Reducing Administrative Burdens: Strategies, Stakeholders, and Impact

Sun, 06 Sep 2026 09:51:06 GMT

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

Female leadership in public bureaucracies: Barriers, trajectories, and transformative Potential

Sat, 29 Aug 2026 11:29:31 GMT

Michelle Fernandez, Universidade de Brasília

Fernando Nieto-Morales, El Colegio de México

This special issue examines female leadership in public bureaucracies, addressing persistent structural barriers limiting women's access to senior positions and the transformative potential of gender-diverse leadership. It seeks to understand how gender shapes governance and policy outcomes across diverse national contexts, particularly in Global South settings where gender inequalities intersect with institutional fragility.

While formal mechanisms like gender quotas and merit-based recruitment have expanded pathways for women, informal norms and implicit biases continue to perpetuate gendered hierarchies. The issue explores how institutional arrangements and organizational cultures shape women's trajectories and how female leadership influences accountability and sector performance.

The collection welcomes empirical contributions examining drivers and obstacles to women's leadership, factors shaping their careers, and policy impacts. Comparative perspectives, intersectional approaches, and research on Global South experiences are particularly encouraged.

Appel publié par Public Administration and Development. Voir l'appel sur le site de l'éditeur. Fiche de l'appel sur kerostig.

Potential topics

Gendered patterns of promotion in the public sector
Institutional reforms aimed at fostering gender parity in public leadership
Informal networks, mentorship, and the role of social capital in career advancement
Intersectional inequalities shaping women's leadership in government
The impact of female leadership on public service delivery and public policy
The effects of female leadership on public sector organizational culture and accountability

Timeline

October 1, 2026: Deadline for proposal submissions
July 1, 2027: Deadline for full manuscript submissions

kerostig | Tag : bureaucracy

Reducing Administrative Burdens: Strategies, Stakeholders, and Impact

Potential topics

Timeline

Female leadership in public bureaucracies: Barriers, trajectories, and transformative Potential

Potential topics

Timeline