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Automation and discretion: explaining the effect of automation on how street-level bureaucrats enforce

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  • Noortje de Boer
  • Nadine Raaphorst

Abstract

A dominant assumption in the street-level bureaucracy literature is that bureaucrats’ discretion is curtailed by automated systems. Drawing on survey and factual data (n = 549) from Dutch inspectors, we test the effect of automation on enforcement style and whether this can be explained by discretion-as-perceived. Our results show that automation (1) increases bureaucrats’ legal and accommodation style; (2) discretion-as-perceived does not mediate this effect; but (3) automation does decrease discretion-as-perceived. The main implication is that we do not find empirical evidence for curtailment and future research should move beyond discretion to understand effects of digital systems on bureaucrats’ behaviour.

Suggested Citation

  • Noortje de Boer & Nadine Raaphorst, 2023. "Automation and discretion: explaining the effect of automation on how street-level bureaucrats enforce," Public Management Review, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 25(1), pages 42-62, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:rpxmxx:v:25:y:2023:i:1:p:42-62
    DOI: 10.1080/14719037.2021.1937684
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