The Street-Level Bureaucrats – an Analysis on the Future of the Romanian Front-Line Public Services
The Street-Level Bureaucrats – an Analysis on the Future of the Romanian Front-Line Public Services

Summary/Abstract: The study focuses on street-level bureaucrats in Romania and on their activity within public services. In this paper we will describe how the issue of discretionary power is tackle in emergency- cy situations and the theoretical framework in the area. The general hypothesis of our research is that among different street-level bureaucracy there are necessary and well-protected relations. Within the paper we have started a comprehensive analysis of the desirability of the interactions among street-level, screen-level and system-level bureaucracies and of the relationship with the citizens as clients. Moreover, for a deeper understanding of how system-level bureaucracy works we will emphasize how street-level bureaucrats incorporate new technologies and practices in their procedures. Based on the investigated theoretical framework of street-level bureaucrats, in this material we will provide supportive evidence for the claim that improving bureaucratic accountability is not only about defining it but also about the “fear of discretion”.

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