Long-wave economic cycles, techno-economic paradigms, and the pattern of reform in American public administration

Previous public administration research has failed to systematically explor e the relationships between changing techno-economic paradigms and reform i n American public administration. This article examines the linkages betwee n bureaucratic reform and long-wave economic cycles. Specifically, the auth ors contend that the techno-economic paradigms that drive economic long wav es are consistent with a pattern of initiation and eventually confirmation of reforms in public administration. The authors show that public administr ation reforms emerge during price downswings and are then followed by a per iod of "reform confirmation" during price upswings. The historical pattern of the approximately 50- to 60-year long-wave cycles reveals 25- to 30-year periods of downswing reform emergence followed by similar periods of price upswing reform confirmation. Finally, this article enhances our knowledge concerning the variables necessary to develop comprehensive theories of pub lic administration reform.