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Review of Public Personnel Administration, Vol. 26, No. 4, 356-381 (2006)
DOI: 10.1177/0734371X05281629

Looking for Evidence of Public Employee Opposition to Privatization

An Empirical Study With Implications for Practice

Sergio Fernandez

Indiana University

Craig R. Smith

University of Georgia

Contemporary public administration encompasses a wide variety of service delivery options. During the past two decades, privatization has become an increasingly utilized and legitimized approach. The perception that privatization poses a threat to public employment is seemingly widespread. Indeed, public sector unions often challenge the adoption of privatization programs. There is little evidence that individual rank-and-file public employees oppose privatization, however. In this study, the authors develop a multivariate model of support for privatization. Using a large-size public opinion data set from Georgia, the authors test the model and find that an individual’s employment in the public sector is a predictor of opposition to privatization. The authors then discuss the practical implications of public employee opposition to privatization. The authors conclude with a discussion of ways for reducing such opposition.

Key Words: privatization • contracting out • employees • unions • opposition

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