Reducing Administrative Burdens | Call for Papers 2026

Call for Papers: Reducing Administrative Burdens – Strategies, Stakeholders, and Impact

A new and impactful call for papers has been announced by Emerald Publishing, focusing on one of the most pressing yet often overlooked challenges in modern governance and organizational systems—administrative burden.

• Publisher: Emerald Publishing

• Submission Deadline: 31 October 2026

About the Special Issue

Administrative burdens—such as excessive paperwork, complex procedures, compliance hurdles, and inefficient processes—affect individuals, organizations, and governments worldwide. These burdens can lead to reduced efficiency, inequitable access to services, and increased operational costs.

This special issue aims to bring together innovative research, practical strategies, and interdisciplinary perspectives that explore how administrative burdens can be identified, measured, and effectively reduced.

Key Focus Areas

Researchers and practitioners are invited to contribute work addressing (but not limited to):

1. Understanding Administrative Burdens

• Conceptual frameworks and theoretical developments

• Measurement and evaluation of administrative complexity

• Impact on citizens, businesses, and public institutions

2. Strategies for Reduction

• Policy reforms and governance innovations

• Digital transformation and automation

• Process simplification and service design improvements

3. Stakeholder Perspectives

• Role of government agencies and policymakers

• Citizen experiences and accessibility challenges

• Organizational behavior and internal management practices

4. Impact Assessment

• Economic and social implications

• Equity and inclusion considerations

• Long-term institutional outcomes

Why This Topic Matters

Administrative burdens often disproportionately affect vulnerable populations, creating barriers to accessing essential services such as healthcare, education, and social welfare. By reducing these burdens, systems can become more efficient, transparent, and inclusive.

This special issue encourages contributions that not only highlight problems but also propose actionable solutions and evidence-based policy recommendations.

Submission Guidelines

Authors are encouraged to submit:

• Original research papers

• Case studies and policy analyses

• Interdisciplinary and comparative studies

Submissions should align with the theme and contribute meaningful insights into reducing administrative inefficiencies across sectors.

🌐 Who Should Submit?

This call is ideal for:

• Academics and researchers in public administration, policy, and management

• Practitioners working in governance and institutional reform

• Scholars in fields like sociology, economics, and organizational studies

The “Reducing Administrative Burdens” special issue presents a valuable opportunity to contribute to a growing global conversation on improving governance systems and service delivery. With increasing emphasis on efficiency, digitalization, and citizen-centric approaches, this topic holds strong relevance across disciplines.

If you’re working on research that can help simplify systems and improve outcomes, this is the perfect platform to share your work before the 31 October 2026 deadline.

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