Exploring the Nexus between the Antecedents, Public Management Reforms and Ethical Standards in Public Service: The Case of the United Arab Emirates

Abstract

This article aims at investigating how different antecedents such as globalization, economy, politics, and socio-cultural dynamics affect public management reforms (PMRs) which subsequently influence public service ethics in terms of integrity, professional values, and trust in government. This article is based on conceptual research. In doing so, it has reviewed existing literature, identified the limitations, and developed a new conceptual framework, which is examine the case of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). International comparative studies such as Worldwide Governance Indicators (WWGIs), Corruption Perception Index (CPI) of Transparency International, and Edelman Trust Barometer have been used for measuring the outcomes. The findings of this study reveal that the antecedents have had important fallouts on the design and implementation of PMRs, which have resulted in persistent performance in terms of public service ethics in the UAE. The article has theoretical and practical implications. The existing literature does not reflect on the relationships between the antecedents, the design and implementation of PMRs and public service ethics. The current article proposes an integrative conceptual framework, which posits that different antecedents have impacts upon PMRs, which subsequently result in enhanced public service ethical standards.