ABSTRACT Red tape is a significant challenge to street-level bureaucrats’ (SLBs) working experience and performance. While extensive research has examined its negative consequences, less attention has been given to how SLBs adapt to bureaucratic constraints. Using Conservation of Resources Theory, we hypothesize that collaboration is an initial coping strategy to navigate red tape. However, as red tape intensifies, collaboration becomes unsustainable, following a curvilinear pattern. Using a survey dataset of 95,571 teachers across 40 countries, we empirically corroborate hypotheses and suggest that while collaboration may initially help SLBs manage red tape, excessive bureaucratic constraints ultimately undermine their ability to collaborate effectively.

ABSTRACT While government support can foster community-based initiatives’ (CBIs’) performance, it may also lead to more experienced red tape. This article goes deeper into the role of boundary-spanning front-line workers in mobilizing support and reducing red tape for CBIs. Based on survey research among CBI participants from six Western countries (N = 2331), the results indicate that boundary-spanning front-line workers facilitate CBIs by increasing government support and reducing the experienced red tape that comes with more support. The findings have important practical implications for the organization of local governments to facilitate CBIs in enhancing public value creation.

Digital transformation is expected to improve the sustainability, efficiency, and transparency of public organizations. Yet, it also entails unintended consequences by generating digital red tape, defined as dysfunctional rules that impose compliance burdens through their integration with digital technologies. This study examines how organizational structure shapes the emergence of digital red tape and how these patterns affect the sustainability of digital transformation. Using two-wave survey data from public employees, digital red tape was measured as digital compliance burden and digital functionality deficiency, while formalization and centralization captured key structural dimensions. Group comparisons were conducted to assess differences in digital red tape and its two dimensions across demographic and organizational categories, followed by robust OLS regressions estimated for upper, middle, and lower bureaucratic echelons. The results show that younger employees and those in lower-echelon organizations perceive higher levels of digital red tape. Across the full sample, both formalization and centralization are positively and significantly associated with digital red tape, with centralization displaying the strongest and most consistent relationships. Echelon-specific regressions further indicate that these structural associations vary in magnitude across hierarchical levels. Centralization remains positively related to digital red tape in all echelons, while the association between formalization and digital red tape appears most pronounced in the middle echelon. Ultimately, sustainable digital transformation requires recognizing both the existence of digital red tape and the ways in which organizational structures shape its emergence and distribution, potentially constraining organizational innovation and diminishing public value.

This research examines bureaucratic and administrative hindrances to entrepreneurial attrition in the Philippines, with particular reference to experiences of recently founded business owners. Employing qualitative methodology, it was informed by in-depth interviews with 20 entrepreneurs across diverse industries in Surigao del Sur, Philippines. Results indicate that too much red tape, ambiguous requirements, and non-responsive government service delivery frequently hold up business operations and impose tremendous emotional and financial stress. Most interviewees indicated that they contemplated postponing or scrapping their business plans because of these barriers. A noteworthy discovery is the disproportionate experience of entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurs with personal contacts or insider help experienced fewer delays, which underlines systemic disparities in access to public services. Meanwhile, most entrepreneurs were subjected to inconsistent information, document resubmission, and insufficient online support. These issues validate earlier research on institutional inefficiency, with this work offering a people-oriented account from the Philippine experience. To remedy these problems, suggested solutions are process simplification, enhanced staff training, and creating inclusive, user-friendly online platforms. This research supports immediate policy and administrative changes for better efforts to create a more supportive and equitable environment for entrepreneurship. Ultimately, enabling entrepreneurs is not just critical for economic recovery and innovation but also for making progress in inclusive development in the nation.

Voice behavior is increasingly recognized as a key driver of organizational responsiveness and innovation in public administration. Drawing on survey data from 691 grassroots public employees in Shandong Province, China, this study investigates how public service motivation (PSM) affects promotive and prohibitive voice, and whether this relationship is moderated by risk preference. Results show that PSM significantly enhances both forms of voice, underscoring its motivational strength even in environments with limited formal rewards. Moreover, risk preference, an individual trait reflecting one's tolerance for uncertainty, strengthens the link between PSM and promotive voice, but not prohibitive voice, suggesting that individual differences in risk-taking propensity shape how public employees translate moral motivation into action, particularly when the perceived stakes of dissent are high. These findings enrich our understanding of the psychological mechanisms and dispositional traits shaping voice behavior in bureaucracies, and offer practical insights for enhancing voice through targeted institutional mechanisms, such as fostering PSM, clarifying public goals, reducing red tape, and strengthening feedback and error management systems.

Abstract One of the professed aims of the current Labour government in the UK is to boost GDP by ‘cutting red tape’. This also applies to the financial sector, where in recent months regulators have been asked to reflect on how rule changes could contribute to competitiveness and growth. A flurry of deregulatory initiatives has resulted from this. In this article, I will argue that far from unproblematically boosting GDP, many of these initiatives actually pose a threat to long‐term economic well‐being. This is particularly true of those regulations that have a ‘macroprudential’ orientation, since these have already been calibrated with the goal of optimising economic welfare across different time horizons. Rolling back these regulations constitutes a bet on potential small short‐term increases in GDP at the cost of reduced long‐term stability that could cause much higher losses down the line.

While meaningful work is widely recognised as a driver of job satisfaction, the role of leadership style and bureaucratic constraints in shaping this relationship remains underexplored. This study addresses this gap by investigating how laissez‐faire leadership and red tape moderate the meaningful work–job satisfaction relationship among Australian public sector employees ( N = 277). The findings reveal that laissez‐faire leadership strengthens this relationship, suggesting that the autonomy it provides enhances the benefits of meaningful work, contrary to its traditionally negative portrayal. In contrast, red tape significantly weakens the relationship, highlighting the adverse effects of bureaucratic inefficiencies. These results confirm that meaningful work is a strong predictor of job satisfaction, but its impact is highly dependent on organisational context. Given the occupational composition of the sample, the findings are most applicable to public sector roles characterised by higher discretion and autonomy. By challenging conventional views of laissez‐faire leadership as detrimental, this study contributes to leadership and public administration research, demonstrating that its effects can be contingent on work meaningfulness and job autonomy. The findings emphasise the need for public sector reforms to reduce bureaucratic constraints and develop leadership approaches that balance autonomy with structured support. Future research should further explore these dynamics across diverse occupational groups and governance contexts for broader applicability and to refine leadership and organisational policies. Points for practitioners Laissez‐faire leadership can enhance job satisfaction when meaningful work is present; therefore, public sector leaders should consider providing employees with greater autonomy and flexibility, especially when tasks are intrinsically motivating. Red tape erodes the positive effects of meaningful work, so reforms aimed at streamlining processes and reducing administrative burdens are essential. Promoting meaningful work by aligning organisational objectives with employees’ personal and societal values can significantly boost job satisfaction, especially in sectors like public service where mission alignment is crucial. While laissez‐faire leadership may work well in certain environments, managers should balance autonomy with appropriate support to maximise job satisfaction and engagement.

The PRIMROSE project: What is 'physiological birth'? Exploring the perceptions of care providers and birthing persons in Australia: A qualitative descriptive study.

After 47 years of membership, in the June 2016 referendum, the United Kingdom voted to exit the European Union, and on 31st January 2020 the UK has left the EU. As a result, the free movement of goods regime between the UK and the EU ceased to exist. Leaving without a trade deal could have had devastating consequences for both sides. Finalised on Christmas Eve 2020, having entered into force after just one day of debate in the UK Parliament, the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) have set hopes high aiming to prevent distortion of trade. However, four years since the Agreement, the trade in goods between the UK and the EU is far from being smooth. Despite the zero-tariff zero-quota rules introduced by the TCA, a considerable level of red tape, non-tariff barriers, customs controls and enhanced paperwork for the traders have all had a negative effect on trade. With the TCA up for review in 2026, is it time for a reset and to enhance the UK’s relationship with Europe through an improved trade deal? Drawing upon academic commentary, this article discusses the post-Brexit rules on trade in goods between the UK and the European Union as introduced by the TCA. It examines how the trade in goods regime has changed following the UK’s departure from the EU, analyses the status quo and ongoing trends, outlines existing issues and difficulties, and considers the possible future developments and cooperation in this field.

When does corruption cause red tape? Bribe discrimination under asymmetric information

Efforts to enhance the commercialization of Malaysian Batik require a fresh perspective for greater effectiveness. Existing studies have predominantly concentrated on cost and supply-related issues. However, higher profits also significantly depend on bolstering the demand for the Batik. This article delves into the obstacles of the demand side by examining the challenges faced by Batik-based apparel small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Malaysia. The research uses a qualitative approach, conducting in-depth interviews with 10 SMEs based in Kuala Lumpur-Selangor. The findings shed light on critical issues such as quality and design concerns of the Malaysian Batik, which compel SMEs to seek alternative fabric sources abroad. Furthermore, these SMEs also encounter issues such as inadequate information, limited feedback mechanisms and excessive bureaucratic red tape when seeking government assistance. The research contributes by emphasizing the urgent need to shift the policy discussion from supply-side to demand-side discussion to support the SMEs across the supply chain.

Legislative oversight is a constitutional mandate in the South African system of governance for maintaining an accountable public service. In practice, the implementation of this mandate is facing complexities arising from poor performance, maladministration, abuse of state power, and corruption scandals affecting governance at all levels. This study aims to explore the implementation of legislative oversight towards enhancing executive accountability to improve service delivery in the Limpopo Province. To guide the study, principal-agent theory was adopted as a theoretical perspective, and qualitative in-depth interviews were conducted to collect data from participants of this study. The finding shows that there was an inconsistent implementation of the oversight system, particularly in the monitoring of executive conduct via public hearings, meetings, reports, site visits, regular reviews, and public engagement processes. The data also highlights that the process of oversight implementation was affected by capacity constraints, a shortage of resources, political interference, ineffective consequence management, and bureaucratic red tape, which undermined the efforts to enforce executive accountability and transparency in the province. Thus, robust collaboration among the legislature and provincial departments, increased resource allocation, and enhanced political commitments are needed to consolidate accountable governance in the context of current political shifts that demand more proactive and innovative legislative oversight systems and mechanisms. This study contributes to the ongoing debate regarding accountable governance and public service delivery in South Africa.

Purpose: This study explored the influence of Late Invoice Payments on small business sustainability. Small Medium Micro Enterprises (SMME) are crucial in South Africa (SA) as they promote innovation, create employment and raise economic growth to the economy. SMMEs provide essential services to large companies and government entities then get paid at a later stage. This study aimed at finding the causes and impact of late payments on the sustainability, success and survival of SMMEs. Design/Methodology/Approach: The study applied a qualitative research methodology applying interviews as a tool for data collection on 20 participants. Themes and sub-themes were developed which were linked to the objectives of the study using the ATLAS ti software for a thematic analysis. Findings: The findings noted that participants highlighted issues like errors on invoices and the delay in the submission of claims for invoice payment as reasons for delay in payment from SMMEs. On the side of clients, participants highlighted the issue of red tape or bureaucracy, poor budgeting, old systems, lack of urgency, many steps or procedures and many people to approve invoices for payment delaying the process. Implications/Originality/Value: As a recommendation there must be laws or policies to enforce clients to pay invoices within agreed timeframes and SMMEs should charge a fee or interest if clients delay in payment.

Abstract The digital transformation in land administration is a strategic step in realizing good land governance and reducing inequality in access to public services, especially in land ownership and control issues. The implementation of electronic land certificates, as stipulated in the Regulation of the Ministry of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning/National Land Agency (ATR/BPN) No. 3/2023 is expected to expand access to services that are transparent, efficient and accountable. This article aims to analyze the contribution of land certificate digitization in supporting the Sustainable Development Goal: Reduced Inequalities, examined through the challenges of its implementation, as well as the solutions offered. The research method used is a normative juridical approach with secondary data analysis. The results show that electronic land certificates have the potential to reduce inequalities by expanding service coverage, reducing bureaucratic red tape and strengthening the legal certainty. However, there are challenges in the form of digital infrastructure inequality, low public literacy and data security risks. Therefore, strengthening infrastructure, improving digital literacy and adequate data protection are needed to ensure that the digitization of the land titles can achieve the Sustainable Development Goal.

ABSTRACT This study advances theory by highlighting the interplay of stressors and coping mechanisms and provides actionable strategies to mitigate burnout and strengthens resilience in complex bureaucratic organisations. Drawing on the job demands-resources model, conservation of resources theory, and other theories, the research employs a sequential mixed-methods approach, integrating quantitative data with qualitative insights. The model demonstrates substantial explanatory power, underscoring the complexity of stressor interactions and coping dynamics in regulating burnout. Role conflict emerged as the strongest burnout predictor, associated with significant depletion of emotional and cognitive resources. Procedural injustice intensified burnout through dual pathways – directly increasing strain and indirectly eroding coping capacities. Distributive injustice undermined trust and motivation, fostering disengagement among employees. Red tape, entrenched in hierarchical cultures, reinforced prevention-focused coping while suppressing promotion-focused coping, reflecting systemic rigidity. Prevention-focused coping was associated with reduced burnout in high-demand environments.

ABSTRACT Conventional reflective and formative models of red tape formation and measurement exhibit significant blind spots in capturing the influence of cultural values, resulting in a general neglect of cultural factors in the study of the public policy process. This study introduces a novel values-embedded formative model aimed at exploring the relationship between value orientations and assessments of bureaucratic red tape. Empirical research utilizing survey data from Taiwan’s civil service demonstrates that this new model offers a more reliable explanation for the formation of red tape compared to traditional models. Notably, our findings show a significantly negative impact of both control orientation and relational orientation on red tape assessments. These results challenge prevailing theories of red tape and highlight the foundational role of cultural values, suggesting that cultural factors may exert a more substantial influence on policy-making systems than is typically acknowledged by mainstream policy scientists.

This study aims to evaluate the implementation of administrative policy changes in public services in the Sirombu District Office, West Nias Regency. The method used in this study was an in-depth interview with ten informants, comprising employees and members of the public. The results of the study show that the implementation of the new policy has increased the efficiency and transparency of services, primarily through the simplification of procedures and the implementation of a one-stop service system. This transformation has significantly reduced the processing time for various administrative tasks, making the public service experience smoother and more efficient for the citizens. The simplification of procedures has also helped in reducing bureaucratic red tape, enabling faster approvals for permits and other official documents. Moreover, the one-stop service system has consolidated various services in a single location, which minimizes the need for citizens to visit multiple offices, thus saving both time and effort. However, there are obstacles faced in the implementation of this policy. These include limited infrastructure, particularly inadequate IT infrastructure and unreliable internet access, which hampers the smooth execution of online services. Low digital literacy among some citizens further complicates the effective utilization of the new system. Moreover, there is a lack of adequate employee training, which results in inefficiencies in handling digital systems and responding to public queries. Despite these challenges, the public has responded positively to the policy, recognizing its potential to improve service delivery. However, certain shortcomings still need to be addressed, such as improving the clarity of procedures, enhancing queue management systems, and addressing the needs of vulnerable groups, such as the elderly and those without access to digital tools.

Absract This study responds to the growing call for shared leadership in the public sector by investigating the factors that contribute to its emergence. Specifically, it examines to which degree key characteristics of the public sector – i.e., organizational red tape (ORT) and public service motivation (PSM) – along with internal team environment (ITE), which presents a frequently studied antecedent of shared leadership, influence shared leadership. The context for this analysis was public universities. The results of our social network analysis suggest that only the PSM sub-dimension “compassion” is positively associated with displays of shared leadership. ORT was not found to be associated with the emergence of shared leadership. In line with research conducted in the private sector, ITE, and specifically its sub-dimension “shared purpose”, was found to be positively associated with shared leadership. We outline directions for future research by discussing explanations for our (in)significant findings.

The primary aim of this paper is to survey the literature’s coverage of integrating circular economy practices with renewable energy sources in the manufacturing sector. A systematic review of 107 peer-reviewed articles published between 2018 and 2023 in journals within the Web of Science and Scopus databases was conducted. The review documented CE and RE applications in emerging economies across Africa, Asia, and South America, assessing the overall characteristics of the research, its methodological rigour, and the barriers to or facilitators of CE and RE integration. Integration refers to the implementation of at least one CE practice, as well as one or more RE sources, in a single context, like manufacturing. A total of 14 practices were included in this analysis because they were mentioned at least 10 times by varying authors. The practice list includes recycling (mentioned in 74 articles), reducing materials (57), remanufacturing (53), the reuse of materials (51), waste minimisation (48), renewable energy use (43), consumer awareness (38), repurposing (35), refuse (33), education and training (28), environmentally friendly design (22), environmental criteria for supplier selection (17), reverse logistics (16), and stakeholder collaboration (14). Recycling, life cycle assessment, and end-of-life management were the most common CE practices in the literature. Additionally, solar power and bioenergy emerged as the most frequently recurring areas of integration for CE practices within the RE realms. Governmental support, incentives, research and development, and strong environmental legislation were found to be the most frequently recurring facilitators of effective CE and RE integration. Organisational resistance, bureaucratic red tape, lack of human capital, limited stakeholder involvement, and insufficient collaboration were found to be important barriers to effective integration between CE and RE.

Objective This study aims to outline the bureaucratic process of obtaining ethical and governance approval to undertake a research project on severe acute maternal morbidity (SAMM), highlighting the effect this had on performing research in a timely way. Methods A retrospective, descriptive case study evaluation, from the researcher's perspective, of the research ethics and governance process required, during 2022-2023, to conduct a retrospective audit of 20years of one SAMM event (peripartum hysterectomy) in five public maternity care facilities (two Hospital and Health Services (HHSs)) within a single state of Australia. Outcome measures included: the number of documents/forms completed, emails sent, phone calls/meetings held, number of people involved in approval, the number of submissions/re-submissions required and the time to obtain ethics/governance approval (working days). Results Ten data custodian approvals from within the same organisation were required to obtain peripartum hysterectomy data from five statewide databases and from local records in two HHSs. Overall, it took 268 working days from submission of the first ethics application to obtaining approval for the final governance application. Conclusions Cumbersome research approval processes consume a lot of research time. Our study exemplifies the continuing overregulation of low- and negligible-risk research that continues to limit investigation and prevention of serious obstetric conditions.