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The Political Dynamics of Bureaucratic Turnover

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  • Dahlström, Carl
  • Holmgren, Mikael

Abstract

This Research Note explores the political dynamics of bureaucratic turnover. It argues that changes in a government’s policy objectives can shift both political screening strategies and bureaucratic selection strategies, which produces turnover of agency personnel. To buttress this conjecture, it analyzes a unique dataset tracing the careers of all agency heads in the Swedish executive bureaucracy between 1960 and 2014. It shows that, despite serving on fixed terms and with constitutionally protected decision-making powers, Swedish agency heads are considerably more likely to leave their posts following partisan shifts in government. The note concludes that, even in institutional systems seemingly designed to insulate bureaucratic expertise from political control, partisan politics can shape the composition of agency personnel.

Suggested Citation

  • Dahlström, Carl & Holmgren, Mikael, 2019. "The Political Dynamics of Bureaucratic Turnover," British Journal of Political Science, Cambridge University Press, vol. 49(3), pages 823-836, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:cup:bjposi:v:49:y:2019:i:03:p:823-836_00
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    Cited by:

    1. Gilad, Sharon & Sulitzeanu-Kenan, Raanan & Levi-Faur, David, 2024. "Partisan Alignment and the Propensity to Choose a Job in a Government Ministry," SocArXiv ufzcj, Center for Open Science.
    2. Bach Tobias, 2020. "Top Officials’ Careers and the Relationship Between Politics and Administration," NISPAcee Journal of Public Administration and Policy, Sciendo, vol. 13(2), pages 35-48, December.
    3. Magnus Lundgren & Kseniya Oksamytna & Vincenzo Bove, 2022. "Politics or Performance? Leadership Accountability in UN Peacekeeping," Journal of Conflict Resolution, Peace Science Society (International), vol. 66(1), pages 32-60, January.
    4. Chen, Shawn Xiaoguang & Liu, Yong & Xu, Xianxiang, 2020. "Dynamics of Local Cadre Appointment in China11We are grateful to the editor Cheryl Long, and three referees for their valuable comments. Shawn Xiaoguang Chen thanks the support of Beijing Municipal Ed," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 64(C).
    5. Ma, Ruichen & Pan, Xiaofei & Suardi, Sandy, 2024. "The quest for green horizons: Can political turnovers drive green investments? New evidence from China," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 132(C).
    6. Tal Sadeh & Yehuda Porath, 2020. "Autonomous agencies and relational contracts in government bond issues," Regulation & Governance, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 14(4), pages 741-763, October.
    7. Fernando Filgueiras & Pedro Palotti & Graziella G. Testa, 2023. "Complexing Governance Styles: Connecting Politics and Policy in Governance Theories," SAGE Open, , vol. 13(1), pages 21582440231, March.
    8. Isabel Narbón-Perpiñá & Maria Teresa Balaguer-Coll & Diego Prior & Emili Tortosa-Ausina, 2023. "Vertical transfers, political alignment, and efficiency in local government," Working Papers 2023/08, Economics Department, Universitat Jaume I, Castellón (Spain).

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