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Keyword of the Day | Administrative Burden
Administrative burden refers to the time, effort, information requirements and psychological costs citizens face while accessing government programmes and public services.
Pamela Herd & Donald Moynihan developed this framework in Administrative Burden (2018).
Thinker of the Day | Charles E. Merriam
Key Works – New Aspects of Politics, The Making of Citizens
Views
- From Institutions → Human Behaviour Merriam encouraged the study of actual behaviour rather than merely constitutional structures. Formal institutions + Human behaviour = Real understanding
Empirical & Scientific Study
He advocated greater use of observation, statistics, psychology and empirical research in political analysis. This laid intellectual foundations for the later behavioural movement associated with Harold Lasswell, David Easton and Robert Dahl.
- Interdisciplinary Approach Merriam encouraged to draw upon Psychology + Sociology + Economics + Statistics This later influenced the behavioural orientation of Public Administration.
Politics and Administration
Merriam’s emphasis on power, political behaviour and social forces challenged purely formalistic approaches to administration.
Pub Ad PYQ Vault | Day 35 | PYQ (2014)
“The principles of Scientific Management are as applicable to public administration as they are to private administration.” Discuss.
