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An Analysis of Differences in Work Motivation between Public and Private Sector Organizations
Author(s) -
Buelens Marc,
Van den Broeck Herman
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
public administration review
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.721
H-Index - 139
eISSN - 1540-6210
pISSN - 0033-3352
DOI - 10.1111/j.1540-6210.2006.00697.x
Subject(s) - public sector , private sector , work (physics) , balance (ability) , survey data collection , public service motivation , work motivation , business , public economics , psychology , economics , economic growth , economy , mathematics , mechanical engineering , engineering , statistics , neuroscience
This study contributes to our understanding of the differences in work motivation between the public and private sectors. Data from a survey of 3,314 private sector and 409 public sector employees in Belgium strongly confirm previous research showing that public sector employees are less extrinsically motivated. Differences in hierarchical level are more important determinants of work motivation than sectoral differences. In addition, most observed differences can be wholly or partially explained by differences in job content, not by the sector itself. Evidence is presented to show that motivational differences can be explained by a positive choice of work–life balance.