New development: Public managers between a rock and a hard place—social-financial sustainability in local government

Abstract

IMPACT The article sheds light on the intricate trade-offs encountered by public managers when coping with competing priorities and navigating between social and financial sustainability. For public managers, the key takeaway lies in recognizing that achieving social–financial sustainability necessitates specific strategies, organizational structures, and tools in public organization. These elements must be integrated, for instance, into performance goals combining social–financial sustainability. As trade-offs are made in budgeting and financial management processes, participatory and collaborative approaches are essential for desired social–financial sustainability impacts. By identifying and highlighting these trade-offs, the article initiates a dialogue where various stakeholders—each with distinct roles, goals, and values—can converge.