Public Values Theory: What Is Missing?

Abstract

Scholars of public value and public values have sought to develop theory by defining, identifying, classifying, and measuring the values, some of which articulate theoretical problems and prescriptions such as values pluralism and the scope of the concept itself. Despite the richness of both theoretical and empirical developments, scholars of public values recognize the fragmentation of related research and seek to re-think and re-organize studies of public values. Considering these works, this current study is an effort to articulate and synthesize the issues in the research approach in public values. Our study provides an overview of public values theory and research with an emphasis on major developments related to value classification schemes and analytical frameworks. The study examines three problems in theory research of public values, namely, the identification problem, motivation problem, and instrument problem. After describing the detailed problems with some examples, the authors suggest approaches to the improvement of theory and research in public values, emphasizing the utility of longitudinal and historical studies.

Public values assessment as a practice: integration of evidence and research agenda

“…Recent research into public values (e.g. Fukumoto and Bozeman 2019) shows that there is a lack of clarity for both scholars and public-sector professionals about how to identify, reflect and decide on public values for concrete policy issues. In the present article, we have named this process PVA, arguing that PVA is something people do, depending on the policy issue they are faced with.…”

“…Easton 1965;Lindblom 1965;Moore 1995), we now see a renewed scholarly and practical interest in, what we call, public values assessment (PVA). First, we define PVA, building on (more recent) public values theory and research (Beck Jørgensen and Bozeman 2007;Bozeman 2007Bozeman , 2019Bryson, Crosby, and Bloomberg 2014;Fukumoto and Bozeman 2019;Nabatchi 2012; van der Wal, Nabatchi, and de Graaf 2015; Wallmeier, Helmig, and Feeney 2019; Williams and Shearer 2011). Our definition of PVA stems from scholarship concerned with individuals or entities -e.g.…”

“…In a recent account on what is currently missing within public values theory and research, Fukumoto and Bozeman (2019) point towards what they call 'the identification problem', that is the lack of agreement by scholars and public-sector professionals about approaches to identify public values. In addition, Beck Jørgensen and Bozeman (2007) point towards the problem of assessment of public values, by indicating that the assessment of public values is even more difficult than the identification of public values.…”

Social media as micro-encounters

“…While it might seem settled, public values definitions, applications and limitations are still being researched and discussed (Fukumoto and Bozeman, 2018). Three core problems are an inability to agree upon core public values, motivations behind policies and practices (if they serve public values or personal interest of the lawmakers), and evaluation of public values achievement (Fukumoto and Bozeman, 2018). Alford and Hughes (2008) indicate some of the confusion lies in the namethat public means government should deliver the value.…”

Valuation tools and politicians’ willingness to sell public real estate: a survey experiment

“…Answering this question offers new and significant information for public management theory, research and practice. First, this study adds to scholarly work on Public Value Governance, which explicitly calls for more empirical research into how diverse government actors deal with the assessment of (public) values for given policy issues (e.g., Bozeman 2019;Bryson, Crosby, and Bloomberg 2014;Fukumoto and Bozeman 2019;Hartley et al 2017;Nabatchi 2012;Huijbregts, George, and Bekkers 2021). Moreover, this study adds to scholarly work on Behavioural Public Administration, which explicitly calls for more empirical research into how political decision-making is impacted by different strategy and performance tools (e.g., George 2020; James et al 2020).…”