Human Capital and Administrative Burden: The Role of Cognitive Resources in Citizen-State Interactions

Julian Christensen; Lene Aarøe; Martin Bækgaard; Pamela Herd; Donald P. Moynihan

doi:10.1111/puar.13134

Human Capital and Administrative Burden: The Role of Cognitive Resources in Citizen-State Interactions

Julian Christensen, Lene Aarøe, Martin Bækgaard, Pamela Herd, Donald P. Moynihan

Institut for Statskundskab

Publikation: Bidrag til tidsskrift/Konferencebidrag i tidsskrift /Bidrag til avis › Tidsskriftartikel › Forskning › peer review

238 Citationer (Scopus)

278 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

One means by which the state reinforces inequality is by imposing administrative burdens that loom larger for citizens with lower levels of human capital. Human capital offers a new perspective on inequality for public administration, but there is much we don’t understand about how it matters for state action. Integrating insights from a variety of disciplines, we focus on one aspect of human capital, cognitive resources. We outline a model that explains how burdens and cognitive resources, especially executive functioning, interrelate, with important implications for inequalities in citizen outcomes. We then provide illustrative examples, by highlighting three common life factors – scarcity, health problems, and age-related cognitive decline. These factors both increase the likelihood that individuals will need assistance from the state, and undermine executive functioning skills, which in turn, may exacerbate the negative effects of burdensome interactions with the state, reducing access to state benefits and increasing inequality.

Originalsprog	Engelsk
Tidsskrift	Public Administration Review
Vol/bind	80
Nummer	1
Sider (fra-til)	127-136
Antal sider	10
ISSN	0033-3352
DOI	https://doi.org/10.1111/puar.13134
Status	Udgivet - 2020

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10.1111/puar.13134Licens: CC BY

Public Administration Review - 2020 - Christensen - Human Capital and Administrative Burden The Role of CognitiveForlagets udgivne version, 439 KBLicens: CC BY

http://ssrn.com/abstract=3481440

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Christensen, J.
29/01/2020
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Citationsformater

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AU - Moynihan, Donald P.

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KW - PREVALENCE

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Human Capital and Administrative Burden: The Role of Cognitive Resources in Citizen-State Interactions

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