Accountability in public administration research: from conceptualizations and normative concerns to theories and empirical tests

Abstract

This chapter provides an overview of, as well as a research agenda for, accountability research in public administration. The chapter first discusses the most important classic perspectives on accountability in public administration research. It is shown that the field is marked by the presence of many, at first sight unrelated, typologies of accountability. There is a major distinction between accountability as a dependent variable and accountability as an independent variable. The chapter second discusses key themes in the emerging literature, showing that the field is moving from conceptual to empirical studies. One site of innovation is studies exploring the linkages between reputation theory, accountability, and strategic communication. A second site of innovation is studies deploying a behavioral perspective on accountability, exploring micro-level behavioral effects of macro-level public administration systems. In the past years, new measurement instruments for accountability have been developed, which are presented here in conjunction.