Administrative Burden Reduction Over Time

Abstract

Burden reduction is a key issue in modern public administrations' and businesses' agendas. Compliance with mandatory regulations can have a direct impact on a country's economic performance, growth, and development. Research in this area, contributes to a better understanding of the implications and context of administrative burden, and increases the efficiency of the strategies adopted to reduce it.The goal of this study is to undertake a review of the current state of the art on Administrative Burden Reduction (ABR), in order to gain a deeper insight about the subject, identify current gaps, and better plan for future research. A total of 122 papers were identified as relevant, out of a pool of 742 papers retrieved from the current literature. The relevant papers were analyzed across four dimensions: methodology, type and focus, and targeted stakeholders. Three key gaps were identified and discussed in relation to: citizen orientated services and burden reduction; empirical research and post-initiative re-evaluation; and, the role of stakeholders, interest groups and end-users in driving ABR. Lastly a conceptual framework model and next steps are proposed.

A legislative amendment within Dutch mental healthcare increases the administrative burden: a follow-up study

“…As mentioned in the introduction, the subject of reducing administrative burdens has already been researched, but these studies were mainly aimed at reducing the costs of administrations, e.g. on time, and at the level of healthcare institutions (Nielsen et al, 2017;Larjow, 2018). This study focuses on the administrative burden experienced by individuals.…”

“…These frictions are classified in the literature under concepts such as red tape, ordeal mechanisms and administrative burdens (Madsen, Mikkelsen and Moynihan, 2022). In the case of reducing administrative burdens, there is already quite a lot of research, however these studies mainly focus on reducing the measurable 'costs' incurred by an institution or company and less on the governance of administrative burden experienced by the individual (Nielsen et al, 2017;Larjow, 2018).…”

How reducing documentation burdens impacts equity in access to small business COVID‐19 relief funding

“…Given the charge of public administration scholars to treat social equity as a central pillar of good governance (Blessett et al, 2019; Frederickson, 2010; Wright & Merritt, 2020), a better understanding of the causes, consequences, and solutions for addressing administrative burdens in government programs is of paramount importance to public administration research, theory, and practice (Biden, 2021; Office of Management and Budget, 2021). In fact, in countries around the world, scholars and policymakers have begun conceptualizing, measuring, and attempting to reduce administrative burdens on the public (e.g., Arendsen et al, 2014; Herd & Moynihan, 2018; Nielsen et al, 2017; SCM Network, 2004). Concerns about equity were heightened by the COVID‐19 pandemic, as racial disparities in illness and death became apparent (Shah et al, 2020).…”