Street-level Enforcement Style: A Multidimensional Measurement Instrument. Issue 5 (4th April 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: de Boer, Noortje
• Is Part Of: International journal of public administration. Volume 42:Issue 5(2019)
• Page Start: 380
• Page End: 391
• Publication Date: 2019-04-04
• Subjects: Enforcement style -- street-level bureaucracy -- regulation -- measurement development -- scale validation; Public administration -- Periodicals; 351.05
• DOI: 10.1080/01900692.2018.1465954
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0190-0692

Abstract

ABSTRACT: This study investigates street-level bureaucrats' enforcement style and its underlying dimensions by developing and validating a multidimensional measurement scale. Developing a measurement scale for enforcement style is relevant because the number of underlying dimensions is contested and studies developing measurement scales are scarce. This complicates cross-sector and cross-national comparisons. Using a survey among inspectors of the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, street-level enforcement style is found to comprising three dimensions: (1) legal, (2) facilitation, and (3) accommodation. This study contributes to more validated measurement instruments by presenting a 13-item measure that can be used to study street-level bureaucrats' enforcement style.