Coping with the Unforeseen: Bounded Rationality and Bureaucratic responses to the Covid-19 crisis

Jørgen Grønnegård Christensen, Peter Bjerre Mortensen*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal/Conference contribution in journal/Contribution to newspaperJournal articleResearchpeer-review

2 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The outbreak of COVID-19 unleashed a severe crisis in society. The suddenness and speed with which the disease spread into a global pandemic makes it an outstanding case for showing how bureaucracy acts in response to a crisis marked by uncertainty and urgency. This article focuses on the role played by the central government bureaucracy in preparing and enacting the Danish government's response to the COVID-19 crisis. It is based on full access to internal government files related to crisis management during the winter and spring of 2020. These files include memos, e-mails, decision notes, and draft decisions from key civil servants. The article demonstrates the strength of the theory of bounded rationality when it comes to analyzing the interaction between top civil servants and political executives. Moreover, it shows how administrative and political executives can mold a governmental organization to overcome the inertia inherent in bureaucratic organization and procedures.

Original languageEnglish
JournalJournal of Public Policy
Volume44
Issue1
Pages (from-to)24-43
Number of pages20
ISSN0143-814X
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Mar 2024

Keywords

  • Bureaucracy
  • bounded rationality
  • politics
  • public organizations

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