Administrative Burden: Learning, Psychological, and Compliance Costs in Citizen-State Interactions
This foundational article develops the concept of administrative burden, defining it as the learning, psychological, and compliance costs individuals face when interacting with government, and argues that these burdens are often shaped by political choices.
The article introduces administrative burden as a critical factor influencing whether people can access public services, their perceptions of government, and their willingness to engage civically.
It outlines how administrative burdens are not just accidental but are often deliberately used as tools of “hidden politics” to shape policy outcomes while avoiding direct political debate. Using the case of Medicaid policy changes in Wisconsin, the authors illustrate how different administrations altered administrative burdens to align with their political ideologies, demonstrating that administrative burden is a venue where politics, governance, and individual experiences intersect
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