Performance and its Discontents: Contemporary Challenges in Public Management

Session Submission Type: Panel

Abstract

This panel is one of the three guaranteed sessions for the Korean Association for Policy Studies (KAPS) based on the MOU between APPAM and KAPS. This panel explores the complex trajectory of contemporary public administration, examining how governments navigate the transition from policy ideals to measurable outcomes. By synthesizing research on technological innovation, institutional accountability, and human capital, the session provides a multi-dimensional look at the forces shaping government efficacy in an increasingly digital and scrutinized world.The discussion begins with the structural determinants of innovation, specifically examining the adoption and intensity of "Living Labs" within South Korean local governments. This micro-level analysis of how rhetoric becomes reality is contrasted by the perverse incentives of oversight, where papers explore how rigid accountability measures can backfire. Evidence suggests that performance shortfalls often lead to "organizational cheating" and effort substitution, revealing a critical tension between transparency and administrative integrity. By investigating the "backfire" effect, the panel addresses how high-stakes environments can distort the very behaviors they aim to improve.The panel further interrogates the stability of the public workforce through the lens of emerging technology, utilizing interpretable machine learning to identify the root causes of civil servant turnover intentions. This internal focus is balanced by an external analysis of digital engagement, comparing the impact of social media participation on government performance across democratic and hybrid regimes. Finally, the panel anchors these administrative behaviors in macroeconomic reality, presenting cross-country panel evidence that links a government’s net financial worth to long-term national economic growth.Collectively, these papers offer a comprehensive framework for understanding the "Rhetoric to Reality" gap. Attendees will gain insights into how modern administrations can foster innovation and social engagement while mitigating the psychological and systemic risks of accountability-driven environments. The session argues that sustainable governance requires balancing technological adoption with a nuanced approach to fiscal health and human resource management.

Policy Area

• Public and Nonprofit Management and Finance

Chair

• Seok-Hwan Lee, Kookmin University

Discussant

• Dohyo Jeong, University of Kentucky

Organizer

• Dohyeong Kim, University of Texas, Dallas

Individual Presentations

• Typologies analysis of AI Innovation Strategies in Korean Public Institutions: : Combining Semantic Network and Cluster Analysis - Presenting Author: Hyung Jun Park, Sungkyunkwan University; Non-Presenting Co-Author: seeun park, Sungkyunkwan university; Non-Presenting Co-Author: Minchang LEE, Chosun University; Non-Presenting Co-Author: Jeongwon Lee, Sungkyunkwan University; Non-Presenting Co-Author: So Hyun Lim

• When Accountability Backfires: Performance Shortfalls, Effort Substitution, and the Politicization of Organizational Cheating - Presenting Author: Jeeseun Baik, Yonsei University

• How Well Do Objective Regional Conditions Predict Life Satisfaction? Evidence from 41 OECD Countries - Presenting Author: JungHwan Ryu, Research Center for Public Human Resource Development / SungKyunKwan University

• Challenges and Opportunities for Korea's Innovation System in the Era of AI: Openness vs. Security - Presenting Author: Ji Woong Yoon, Science & Technology Policy Institute (STEPI)

• Government Net Worth and Economic Growth: Cross-Country Panel Evidence - Non-Presenting Co-Author: Bong Hwan Kim, Seoul National University; Presenting Author: Hae In Lee, Seoul National University