Committed to the public interest? Motivation and behavioural outcomes among local councillors

Lene Holm Pedersen

doi:10.1111/j.1467-9299.2012.02107.x

Committed to the public interest? Motivation and behavioural outcomes among local councillors

Abstract

While politicians are often seen as being motivated by narrow self-interest, this article offers an alternative view. The relationship between two pro-social dimensions - Commitment to the Public Interest (CPI) and User Orientation (UO) - and behavioural outcomes among local councillors is analyzed. The raison d'être for the local councils is to define the public interest. In line with this, CPI, which is directed towards doing good for the public interest, is associated with working hours and political influence; this is much less so for UO, which is directed towards doing good for individual citizens. Behavioural outcomes are thus greater if there is a fit between the personal motivation and the organizational environment. This has implications for democracy, as a fit could lead to a race to the top. The data are based on a survey of local councillors in Denmark in 2009.

Original language	Danish
Journal	Public Administration
Volume	92
Issue number	4
Pages (from-to)	886-901
Number of pages	16
ISSN	0033-3298
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9299.2012.02107.x
Publication status	Published - 1 Dec 2014

Access to Document

10.1111/j.1467-9299.2012.02107.x

Cite this

@article{a6e32df61d38433394c04b1e73e92b8c,

title = "Committed to the public interest? Motivation and behavioural outcomes among local councillors",

abstract = "While politicians are often seen as being motivated by narrow self-interest, this article offers an alternative view. The relationship between two pro-social dimensions - Commitment to the Public Interest (CPI) and User Orientation (UO) - and behavioural outcomes among local councillors is analyzed. The raison d'{\^e}tre for the local councils is to define the public interest. In line with this, CPI, which is directed towards doing good for the public interest, is associated with working hours and political influence; this is much less so for UO, which is directed towards doing good for individual citizens. Behavioural outcomes are thus greater if there is a fit between the personal motivation and the organizational environment. This has implications for democracy, as a fit could lead to a race to the top. The data are based on a survey of local councillors in Denmark in 2009.",

author = "Pedersen, {Lene Holm}",

year = "2014",

month = dec,

day = "1",

doi = "10.1111/j.1467-9299.2012.02107.x",

language = "Dansk",

volume = "92",

pages = "886--901",

journal = "Public Administration",

issn = "0033-3298",

publisher = "Wiley-Blackwell",

number = "4",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Committed to the public interest? Motivation and behavioural outcomes among local councillors

AU - Pedersen, Lene Holm

PY - 2014/12/1

Y1 - 2014/12/1

N2 - While politicians are often seen as being motivated by narrow self-interest, this article offers an alternative view. The relationship between two pro-social dimensions - Commitment to the Public Interest (CPI) and User Orientation (UO) - and behavioural outcomes among local councillors is analyzed. The raison d'être for the local councils is to define the public interest. In line with this, CPI, which is directed towards doing good for the public interest, is associated with working hours and political influence; this is much less so for UO, which is directed towards doing good for individual citizens. Behavioural outcomes are thus greater if there is a fit between the personal motivation and the organizational environment. This has implications for democracy, as a fit could lead to a race to the top. The data are based on a survey of local councillors in Denmark in 2009.

AB - While politicians are often seen as being motivated by narrow self-interest, this article offers an alternative view. The relationship between two pro-social dimensions - Commitment to the Public Interest (CPI) and User Orientation (UO) - and behavioural outcomes among local councillors is analyzed. The raison d'être for the local councils is to define the public interest. In line with this, CPI, which is directed towards doing good for the public interest, is associated with working hours and political influence; this is much less so for UO, which is directed towards doing good for individual citizens. Behavioural outcomes are thus greater if there is a fit between the personal motivation and the organizational environment. This has implications for democracy, as a fit could lead to a race to the top. The data are based on a survey of local councillors in Denmark in 2009.

UR - http://www.mendeley.com/research/committed-public-interest-motivation-behavioural-outcomes-among-local-councillors

U2 - 10.1111/j.1467-9299.2012.02107.x

DO - 10.1111/j.1467-9299.2012.02107.x

M3 - Tidsskriftartikel

SN - 0033-3298

VL - 92

SP - 886

EP - 901

JO - Public Administration

JF - Public Administration

IS - 4

ER -

Committed to the public interest? Motivation and behavioural outcomes among local councillors

Abstract

Access to Document

Other files and links

Cite this