Hidden costs of cuts: Austerity, civil service management and the motivation of public officials in Central and Eastern Europe after the crisis

Jan-Hinrik Meyer-Sahling, Barbara Janta, Iveta Reinholde and Christian van Stolk
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Jan-Hinrik Meyer-Sahling: University of Nottingham
Barbara Janta: RAND Europe
Iveta Reinholde: University of Latvia
Christian van Stolk: RAND Europe

European Journal of Government and Economics, 2016, vol. 5, issue 2, 120-137

Abstract: The implementation of austerity measures presents a dilemma for governments. While austerity measures such as cutbacks aim to reduce costs and enhance public sector efficiency, the same measures might undermine the motivation of employees and, consequently, the prospects of effectively implementing austerity programmes. Based on a survey of ministerial officials in Poland and Latvia, this article finds that the scale of cutbacks explains a larger decline of staff motivation in Latvia than in Poland. The article further shows that motivation was more likely to decrease after the crisis if austerity measures involved cutbacks such as staff reductions, recruitment freezes, and a reduction of training opportunities.

Keywords: economic crisis; austerity; cutbacks; civil service reform; motivation; Central and Eastern Europe (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D73 H50 J30 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016-12
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:egr:ejge00:v:5:i:2:p:120-137

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