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Policy Implementation, Street-level Bureaucracy, and the Importance of Discretion

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  • Lars Tummers
  • Victor Bekkers

Abstract

Street-level bureaucrats implementing public policies have a certain degree of autonomy - or discretion - in their work. Following Lipsky, discretion has received wide attention in the policy implementation literature. However, scholars have not developed theoretical frameworks regarding the effects of discretion, which were then tested using large samples. This study therefore develops a theoretical framework regarding two main effects of discretion: client meaningfulness and willingness to implement. The relationships are tested using a survey among 1,300 health care professionals implementing a new policy. The results underscore the importance of discretion. Implications of the findings and a future research agenda is shown.

Suggested Citation

  • Lars Tummers & Victor Bekkers, 2014. "Policy Implementation, Street-level Bureaucracy, and the Importance of Discretion," Public Management Review, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 16(4), pages 527-547, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:pubmgr:v:16:y:2014:i:4:p:527-547
    DOI: 10.1080/14719037.2013.841978
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    Cited by:

    1. Mette Sønderskov & Rolf Rønning, 2021. "Public Service Logic: An Appropriate Recipe for Improving Serviceness in the Public Sector?," Administrative Sciences, MDPI, vol. 11(3), pages 1-15, June.
    2. Changkun Cai & Qiyao Shen & Na Tang, 2022. "Do visiting monks give better sermons? “Street‐level bureaucrats from higher‐up” in targeted poverty alleviation in China," Public Administration & Development, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 42(1), pages 55-71, February.
    3. Resnick, Danielle & Okumo, Austen, 2017. "Subnational variation in policy implementation: the case of Nigerian land governance reform:," NSSP working papers 46, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    4. Norin Arshed & Colin Mason & Sara Carter, 2016. "Exploring the disconnect in policy implementation: A case of enterprise policy in England," Environment and Planning C, , vol. 34(8), pages 1582-1611, December.
    5. JUKNEVIČIENĖ, Vita, 2019. "Key Factors For The Successful Implementation Of The National Innovation Policy: The Case Of Lithuania," Annals of Spiru Haret University, Economic Series, Universitatea Spiru Haret, vol. 19(2), pages 25-50.
    6. Miller, Fiona A. & Lehoux, Pascale, 2020. "The innovation impacts of public procurement offices: The case of healthcare procurement," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 49(7).
    7. Brattström, Erik & Hellström, Tomas, 2019. "Street-level priority-setting: The role of discretion in implementation of research, development, and innovation priorities," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 127(C), pages 240-247.
    8. Valeria Biffi Isla, 2022. "Community‐level bureaucrats conserving the Peruvian Amazon," Public Administration & Development, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 42(1), pages 44-54, February.
    9. Mohammed Salah Hassan & Raja Noriza Raja Ariffin & Norma Mansor & Hussam Al Halbusi, 2021. "An Examination of Street-Level Bureaucrats’ Discretion and the Moderating Role of Supervisory Support: Evidence from the Field," Administrative Sciences, MDPI, vol. 11(3), pages 1-14, June.
    10. Abdul‐Rahim Mohammed, 2022. "Discretion on the frontlines of the implementation of the Ghana School Feeding Programme: Street‐Level Bureaucrats adapting to austerity in northern Ghana," Public Administration & Development, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 42(1), pages 33-43, February.
    11. Maayan Davidovitz & Nissim Cohen, 2022. "Alone in the campaign: Distrust in regulators and the coping of front‐line workers," Regulation & Governance, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 16(4), pages 1005-1021, October.
    12. Na Tang & Muyu He, 2023. "The times make a hero: Street‐level policy entrepreneurship in major crisis responses in China," Review of Policy Research, Policy Studies Organization, vol. 40(4), pages 490-508, July.
    13. Christi L. Gross & Jacob Church & Tiffany Taylor & Jackuelyn K. Towne‐Roese, 2018. "“Between a Rock and a Hard Place”: The Constraints of Welfare‐to‐Work Bureaucracies," Poverty & Public Policy, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 10(1), pages 39-56, March.
    14. Peltomaa, Juha & Hildén, Mikael & Huttunen, Suvi, 2016. "Translating institutional change - forest journals as diverse policy actors," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 70(C), pages 172-180.
    15. Jesper Dahl Kelstrup, 2024. "Understanding the role of practical knowledge in evidence-based welfare reform—a three-stage model," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 11(1), pages 1-8, December.
    16. Ali, Sameen A. Mohsin, 2020. "Driving participatory reforms into the ground: The bureaucratic politics of irrigation management transfer in Pakistan," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 135(C).
    17. Khalid Mehmood & Yaser Iftikhar & Aamir Suhail & Adil Zia, 2024. "How high-involvement work practices, public service motivation, and employees’ commitment influence employees' proactive work behavior: evidence from China," Asian Business & Management, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 23(1), pages 55-81, February.
    18. Suzanne Rutz & Dinah Mathew & Paul Robben & Antoinette de Bont, 2017. "Enhancing responsiveness and consistency: Comparing the collective use of discretion and discretionary room at inspectorates in England and the Netherlands," Regulation & Governance, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 11(1), pages 81-94, March.
    19. Silva-Muller, Livio, 2022. "Payment for ecosystem services and the practices of environmental fieldworkers in policy implementation: The case of Bolsa Floresta in the Brazilian Amazon," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 120(C).
    20. Gibson, Katherine & Samuels, Gina & Pryce, Julia, 2018. "Authors of accountability: Paperwork and social work in contemporary child welfare practice," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 85(C), pages 43-52.

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