The Preferences, Motivations and Decision Behaviour of Policy Bureaucrats

Abstract

Policy bureaucrats are key actors in the policymaking process, interacting with politicians, interest groups, experts, and supranational institutions. The main thrust of theorizing on policy bureaucrats and their preferences emphasizes the risk of ‘bureaucratic drift’ and focuses on different mechanisms of politicians’ control over bureaucracy. In contrast, empirical studies from inside the machine room of government suggest a more complex (and less pessimistic) picture of policy bureaucrats’ political responsiveness and emphasize the relevance of organizational contexts. This panel discusses theoretical and empirical papers addressing the preferences, motivations and decision behavior of policy bureaucrats.