147. Marina Nistotskaya on merit-based bureaucracies
About this episode
Marina Nistotskaya discusses the impact of merit-based recruitment on bureaucratic effectiveness and independence.
In this episode of Kickback, host Elizabeth David-Barrett is joined by Marina Nistotskaya, Professor at the Department of Political Science and researcher at the Quality of Government Institute, University of Gothenburg. The conversation explores the role of merit-based recruitment in shaping effective and impartial bureaucracies. Marina discusses how hiring processes influence both competence and independence, and why this distinction is critical for resisting political interference and corruption. The discussion also considers the appropriate balance between political appointments and bureaucratic autonomy, highlighting current debates and trends across different countries. Finally, the episode looks at newer areas of research, including how ambiguity in laws and the outsourcing of state functions can affect decision-making and public service outcomes. Links to Marina's research: Futures for the Public Sector. Leuven University Press, 2025. Project MUSE https://muse.jhu.edu/pub/258/oa_edited_volume/chapter/4135540/pdf Legal Clarity and Impartiality: A Global Experimental Study of Consistency in Bureaucratic Decision Making, Joakim Nilsson and Marina Nistotskaya, 2025…
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