Determinants of Public Sector Innovation: A Comparative Study of Spanish Local Governments

Irene Liarte, J. Ignacio Criado and Laura Alcaide-Muñoz

International Journal of Public Administration, 2026, vol. 49, issue 1, 30-45

Abstract: This article examines the effective adoption of innovation at the local level of government. Despite technological advancements and societal challenges having amplified the transformative role of local governments, the conditions for successfully developing innovation remain unclear. Applying the comparative perspective based on the Most Different Systems Design (MDSD) logic, and mixed methods, this study identifies three distinct innovation strategies and the common factors driving their success. The results underscore the importance of institutional, political and socio-economic antecedents in initiating innovation, while highlighting leadership, collaboration, and learning as key implementation mechanisms. The research contributes to public sector innovation literature and practice.

Date: 2026
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DOI: 10.1080/01900692.2025.2451390

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