Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/288001 
Authors: 
Year of Publication: 
2023
Citation: 
[Journal:] Public Administration Review [ISSN:] 1540-6210 [Volume:] 83 [Issue:] 3 [Publisher:] Wiley Subscription Services, Inc. [Place:] Hoboken, USA [Year:] 2023 [Pages:] 587-602
Publisher: 
Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., Hoboken, USA
Abstract: 
Previous literature presents a strong rationale for the positive impact of symbolic representation in coproduction contexts. However, empirical studies yield inconclusive findings indicating that meaningful effects are limited if citizens face high levels of uncertainty. This article combines symbolic representation with signaling theory, suggesting that the representativeness of central reference groups might reduce uncertainty. The theoretical framework suggests that the representation of supervisors and existing coproducers might positively affect citizens' willingness to coproduce. Contrary to the theoretical expectations, the empirical results from two preregistered factorial survey experiments (n = 2979), situated in prisoner rehabilitation and refugee integration, indicate that the symbolic gender representation of these reference groups has a limited impact. Only a balanced representation of coproducers exhibits a positive treatment effect on citizens' willingness to coproduce. The results oppose central arguments in the representative bureaucracy literature. At least for gender categories, symbolic representation is less important than expected.
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Document Type: 
Article
Document Version: 
Published Version

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