Public and private differences in employees’ values: a cross-country investigation of Schwartz’s basic human values theory

Mathias Frost; Jesper Rosenberg Hansen; Jesper Wulff

doi:10.1080/10967494.2023.2195212

Public and private differences in employees’ values: a cross-country investigation of Schwartz’s basic human values theory

Mathias Frost, Jesper Rosenberg Hansen^*, Jesper Wulff

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal/Conference contribution in journal/Contribution to newspaper › Journal article › Research › peer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)

Abstract

Individuals’ personal values have a significant influence on their attitudes and behaviors within organizations, yet we have limited knowledge about whether and how personal values differ across sectors. This study investigates sector differences in personal values, applying Schwartz’s well-established constructs of basic human values. We hypothesize that public employees are more likely to have stronger self-transcendence and conformity values and weaker openness to change values than private employees. Using multi-year data from 20 countries, we find that public employees have stronger self-transcendence and conformity values, consistent across countries, with a few differences across industries. No systematic sector difference in openness to change was found.

Original language	English
Journal	International Public Management Journal
Volume	26
Issue	6
Pages (from-to)	807-828
Number of pages	22
ISSN	1096-7494
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1080/10967494.2023.2195212
Publication status	Published - 2023

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10.1080/10967494.2023.2195212

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title = "Public and private differences in employees{\textquoteright} values: a cross-country investigation of Schwartz{\textquoteright}s basic human values theory",

abstract = "Individuals{\textquoteright} personal values have a significant influence on their attitudes and behaviors within organizations, yet we have limited knowledge about whether and how personal values differ across sectors. This study investigates sector differences in personal values, applying Schwartz{\textquoteright}s well-established constructs of basic human values. We hypothesize that public employees are more likely to have stronger self-transcendence and conformity values and weaker openness to change values than private employees. Using multi-year data from 20 countries, we find that public employees have stronger self-transcendence and conformity values, consistent across countries, with a few differences across industries. No systematic sector difference in openness to change was found.",

author = "Mathias Frost and Hansen, {Jesper Rosenberg} and Jesper Wulff",

year = "2023",

doi = "10.1080/10967494.2023.2195212",

language = "English",

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pages = "807--828",

journal = "International Public Management Journal",

issn = "1096-7494",

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Public and private differences in employees’ values: a cross-country investigation of Schwartz’s basic human values theory. / Frost, Mathias; Hansen, Jesper Rosenberg ; Wulff, Jesper.
In: International Public Management Journal, Vol. 26, No. 6, 2023, p. 807-828.

Research output: Contribution to journal/Conference contribution in journal/Contribution to newspaper › Journal article › Research › peer-review

TY - JOUR

T1 - Public and private differences in employees’ values

T2 - a cross-country investigation of Schwartz’s basic human values theory

AU - Frost, Mathias

AU - Hansen, Jesper Rosenberg

AU - Wulff, Jesper

PY - 2023

Y1 - 2023

N2 - Individuals’ personal values have a significant influence on their attitudes and behaviors within organizations, yet we have limited knowledge about whether and how personal values differ across sectors. This study investigates sector differences in personal values, applying Schwartz’s well-established constructs of basic human values. We hypothesize that public employees are more likely to have stronger self-transcendence and conformity values and weaker openness to change values than private employees. Using multi-year data from 20 countries, we find that public employees have stronger self-transcendence and conformity values, consistent across countries, with a few differences across industries. No systematic sector difference in openness to change was found.

AB - Individuals’ personal values have a significant influence on their attitudes and behaviors within organizations, yet we have limited knowledge about whether and how personal values differ across sectors. This study investigates sector differences in personal values, applying Schwartz’s well-established constructs of basic human values. We hypothesize that public employees are more likely to have stronger self-transcendence and conformity values and weaker openness to change values than private employees. Using multi-year data from 20 countries, we find that public employees have stronger self-transcendence and conformity values, consistent across countries, with a few differences across industries. No systematic sector difference in openness to change was found.

U2 - 10.1080/10967494.2023.2195212

DO - 10.1080/10967494.2023.2195212

M3 - Journal article

SN - 1096-7494

VL - 26

SP - 807

EP - 828

JO - International Public Management Journal

JF - International Public Management Journal

IS - 6

ER -

Public and private differences in employees’ values: a cross-country investigation of Schwartz’s basic human values theory

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