Public Sector Occupations Research Articles

The demand for local government goods

Abstract. This paper analyses the spending preferences of local government elected politicians. It is argued that the median voter model is inappropriate in multi‐party systems that provide multiple government services, and that the preferences of the representatives are consequential to local resource allocation. We develop a micromodel in which service demand is conditioned by exogenous public revenue, prices, and demographic factors. We hypothesise that politicians demands are affected by party affiliation, public sector occupation and committee assignment. The estimates of the micro demand functions are based on data pertaining to Norwegian local governments. It is found that the estimated income elasticities correspond approximately with elasticities of output studies. Party affiliation has an impact on demand patterns, while government occupation and committee appointment are major determinants of politicians desired allocation of public services. Further analyses reveal that the numerical strength of parties impacts weakly on the actual service allocation, whereas the representation of government employees has occasional effect. The budgetary allocations are imperfect expressions of the elected council's underlying preferences.

The New Management and the Professionals

This proposed paper takes the opportunity to review findings from research and reported processes in a range of public sector services; education, health, social work/social care and policing/security. It offers a general analysis of the impact of the new management on a range of public sector occupations. Among other sources, the paper draws particularly on research by the authors in several of these areas including, specifically, research into the NHS hospitals, social work, and the police.

Job Stress and Public Sector Occupations

Stress in public organizations can affect the health, well-being and productivity of the workforce This article examines three so-called "high stress" government jobs (nurses, police officers and air traffic controllers), identifies the sources, symptoms, and conse quences of stress, and compares stress levels in these occupations with those in other populations Public personnel managers can work with others to prevent, detect, and manage stress in their work settings The authors discuss and illustrate various individ ual and or ganizational strategies relevant to stress management in each of the three oc- cupations

Equality and efficiency tradeoffs in affirmative action—Real or imagined? The case of women in policing

This article investigates rival predictions about the consequences of affirmative action on behalf of women in one previously male-dominated public sector occupation—police service. While some predict that the enhanced use of women police officers will diminish the quality of public services, others argue precisely the opposite point of view. It is suggested here that such predictions have much more to do with the political and ideological perspectives of advocates and opponents of affirmative action than with empirical observation. It is suggested further that this question of the impact upon the quality of public service of enhanced utilization of women is much deserving of careful empirical study. Such an analysis is presented here, and the results observed indicate that little if any effect upon police agency performance can be attributed to differing levels of female police officers.

Structure of Job Diagnostic Survey for public sector occupations.

Structure of Job Diagnostic Survey for public sector occupations.

Structure of Job Diagnostic Survey for public sector occupations.

Structure of Job Diagnostic Survey for public sector occupations.

Economic Effects of the Firefighters' Union

This is a study of the effects of unionism in the public sector occupation of firefighting. A large and detailed set of data permits the examination of submarkets of this occupation. A before/after methodology is introduced to obtain more precise estimates of union wage differentials. The study's findings are: (1) that there is a greater union effect on fringes than on salaries which indicates a significant alteration in the composition of the compensation package;(2) that the estimates from the before/after methodology confirm the cross-section results which show modest union wage differentials; and ,most significantly, (3) that the union effect varies along different dimensions -- most notably the length of the contractual arrangement between municipality and union.

Economic Effects of the Firefighters' Union

This is a study of the effects of unionism in the public sector occupation of firefighting. A large and detailed set of data permits the examination of submarkets of this occupation. A before/after methodology is introduced to obtain more precise estimates of union wage differentials. The study's findings are: (1) that there is a greater union effect on fringes than on salaries which indicates a significant alteration in the composition of the compensation package;(2) that the estimates from the before/after methodology confirm the cross-section results which show modest union wage differentials; and ,most significantly, (3) that the union effect varies along different dimensions -- most notably the length of the contractual arrangement between municipality and union.