Means, Motive, and Opportunity – Local Government Data Distortion in a High-Stakes Environment

Drew, J; Grant, B

Means, Motive, and Opportunity – Local Government Data Distortion in a High-Stakes Environment

Drew, J

Grant, B

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Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Australian Journal of Public Administration, 2017, 76 (2), pp. 237 - 250
Issue Date:: 2017-06-01

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Drew, J https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3579-5758	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Grant, B https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8055-6046	en_US
dc.date.available	2020-05-25T19:07:32Z
dc.date.issued	2017-06-01	en_US
dc.identifier.citation	Australian Journal of Public Administration, 2017, 76 (2), pp. 237 - 250	en_US
dc.identifier.issn	0313-6647	en_US
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/51611
dc.description.abstract	© 2016 Institute of Public Administration Australia Regulatory authorities are increasingly relying upon performance data for developing public policy. However, this reliance necessarily assumes that the data are free from material distortion. This paper provides a conceptual framework for understanding the ‘means’, ‘motive’, and ‘opportunity’ for distorting data employed in high-stakes performance-management programmes. We present empirical evidence which suggests that the use of data drawn entirely from financial statements by no means guarantees a distortion-free depiction of performance. In addition, we provide econometric evidence of some important determinants of performance data distortion. Taken as a whole, the following analysis provides a comprehensive picture of the salient matters which must be addressed to ensure accurate data for public policy-making purposes.	en_US
dc.relation.ispartof	Australian Journal of Public Administration	en_US
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1111/1467-8500.12225	en_US
dc.subject.classification	Political Science & Public Administration	en_US
dc.title	Means, Motive, and Opportunity – Local Government Data Distortion in a High-Stakes Environment	en_US
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	2	en_US
utslib.citation.volume	76	en_US
utslib.for	1605 Policy and Administration	en_US
utslib.for	14 Economics	en_US
utslib.for	15 Commerce, Management, Tourism and Services	en_US
utslib.for	16 Studies in Human Society	en_US
pubs.embargo.period	Not known	en_US
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/DVC (Research)
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/DVC (Research)/lnstitute for Public Policy and Governance
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Strength - IPPG - Institute for Public Policy and Governance
utslib.copyright.status	open_access
pubs.issue	2	en_US
pubs.publication-status	Published	en_US
pubs.volume	76	en_US

Abstract:

© 2016 Institute of Public Administration Australia Regulatory authorities are increasingly relying upon performance data for developing public policy. However, this reliance necessarily assumes that the data are free from material distortion. This paper provides a conceptual framework for understanding the ‘means’, ‘motive’, and ‘opportunity’ for distorting data employed in high-stakes performance-management programmes. We present empirical evidence which suggests that the use of data drawn entirely from financial statements by no means guarantees a distortion-free depiction of performance. In addition, we provide econometric evidence of some important determinants of performance data distortion. Taken as a whole, the following analysis provides a comprehensive picture of the salient matters which must be addressed to ensure accurate data for public policy-making purposes.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/51611