Looking for Evidence of Public Employee Opposition to Privatization: An Empirical Study With Implications for Practice

Sergio Fernandez, Craig R. Smith

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

19 Scopus citations

Abstract

Contemporary public administration encompasses a wide variety of service delivery options. During the past two decades, privatization has become an increasingly utilized and legitimized approach. The perception that privatization poses a threat to public employment is seemingly widespread. Indeed, public sector unions often challenge the adoption of privatization programs. There is little evidence that individual rank-and-file public employees oppose privatization, however. In this study, the authors develop a multivariate model of support for privatization. Using a large-size public opinion data set from Georgia, the authors test the model and find that an individual's employment in the public sector is a predictor of opposition to privatization. The authors then discuss the practical implications of public employee opposition to privatization. The authors conclude with a discussion of ways for reducing such opposition.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)356-381
Number of pages26
JournalReview of Public Personnel Administration
Volume26
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 2006

Keywords

  • contracting out
  • employees
  • opposition
  • privatization
  • unions

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Public Administration
  • Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Looking for Evidence of Public Employee Opposition to Privatization: An Empirical Study With Implications for Practice'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this