Public administration contributes to happiness: a study on the relationship between public value and happiness in Switzerland
Journal
International Journal of Public Sector Management
ISSN
0951-3558
Type
journal article
Date Issued
2024-02-01
Author(s)
Abstract
In public management research, the focus in the public value debate has been on public administration organizations' broader societal outcomes. Public value describes how public administrations form a vital part of the social context in which people develop and grow. However, there has not yet been an analysis of how public administration contributes to happiness in society.
In this study, we empirically analyze the relationship between people's happiness and the public value of public administration. Our approach is based on a unique Swiss survey dataset comprising 870 individuals. We find a positive relationship between public administration's public value and happiness. We also find preliminary evidence with a moderation analysis that the relationship between a value-creating public administration sector and self-reported happiness is stronger for public administration employees. While correlation studies cannot claim causal explanations and common method bias may additionally limit any research in social science, we took a number of measures to mitigate related problem. We tested our model in two samples and took both several procedural techniques and a survey design minimizing common method bias.
In this study, we empirically analyze the relationship between people's happiness and the public value of public administration. Our approach is based on a unique Swiss survey dataset comprising 870 individuals. We find a positive relationship between public administration's public value and happiness. We also find preliminary evidence with a moderation analysis that the relationship between a value-creating public administration sector and self-reported happiness is stronger for public administration employees. While correlation studies cannot claim causal explanations and common method bias may additionally limit any research in social science, we took a number of measures to mitigate related problem. We tested our model in two samples and took both several procedural techniques and a survey design minimizing common method bias.
Language
English (United States)
Keywords
Happiness
Public value
Public administration
Public administration performance Paper type Research paper
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