Policy workers’ profiles at sub-national level: comparison of the Czech Republic’s regions with Canadian provinces and territories
Abstract
This article compares profiles of policy bureaucrats (PBs) in thirteen Canadian provinces and territories with PBs in Czech regions. Canadian data come from 13 separate surveys conducted in provinces and territories in late 2008 and early 2009 (N = 1357) by M.
Howlett and colleagues. The Czech data are based upon a large-scale survey carried out at the end of 2012 (N = 783).
It is shown that PBs in these two countries differ in almost all aspects. When compared with the Czech PBs, Canadian PBs tend to be older, more equipped with analytical skills, dealing with more difficult issues but less internally networked and less anticipating to stay in current position.
On the other hand, both Canadian and Czech sub-national PBs are more trouble-shooters than planners. It is argued that in the two countries quite different types of sub-national policy work have evolved.
The article concludes with implications for further research and practice.