“Values in Public Management: Privatization and the Public–Private Divide”

Call for Papers – Management Focus Section: “Values in Public Management: Privatization and the Public–Private Divide”

Journal: European Management Journal
Publisher: Elsevier
Submission window: 06 April 2026 – 08 May 2026

Overview

This Management Focus section, published by the European Management Journal, explores the complex intersection of public and private values in modern governance. It critically investigates how privatization, corporatization, and re-municipalization reforms influence public value creation, challenging the traditional binary between public-sector and private-sector management. The issue invites research into the tensions, synergies, and coexistence of these value systems, particularly within hybrid organizational forms and outsourced public service delivery.

Key Research Themes

• Value Interplay & Conflict: Exploring the alignment and tensions between public values (e.g., equity, social good, fairness) and private values (e.g., efficiency, cost control, market-oriented outcomes).

• Reform Dynamics: Examining the impact of privatization and re-municipalization processes on public service quality and democratic accountability.

• Normative & Ethical Dimensions: Research into public sector integrity, anti-corruption, and accountability in public procurement and hybrid governance structures.

• Digital & Algorithmic Governance: Investigating how AI and automated decision-making affect the balance between collective societal benefits and business-oriented organizational logic.

• Comparative Analysis: Studies employing comparative designs to understand how different administrative systems manage the boundaries between public and private management logic.

Submission Details

• Submission window: 06 April 2026 to 08 May 2026.

• Submission portal: https://www.editorialmanager.com/EUMJ

• Special Instructions: You must select the paper type “Management Focus: Values in public management” during the submission process to ensure your work is routed to the correct editors.

• Submission Standards: The section welcomes both conceptual and empirical papers. All submissions will undergo the journal’s standard double-blind peer review process and must comply with the EMJ Publication Guidelines.

Guest Editor Team

• Sorin Dan, University of Vaasa (sorin.dan@uwasa.fi)

• Tom S. Karlsson, University of Gothenburg (tom.karlsson@gu.se)

• David E. Mills, Queensland University of Technology (d5.mills@qut.edu.au)

Why This Issue Matters

As the boundaries between public and private sectors become increasingly fluid, understanding how to maintain public integrity while leveraging private management efficiency is a critical challenge. This Management Focus section provides a high-visibility platform for researchers to bridge these divides, offering essential insights for both management theory and the practice of democratic governance in the 21st century.

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