Taking Stock: Evidence about the Standing of Public Administration in Academia

Abstract

This article reviews existing empirical evidence regarding the status of public administration as a field of study. It finds, overall, very little research taking stock of public administration as an academic field and a lack of research examining public administration as an interdisciplinary field. Indicators that do exist offer a mixed view of field growth and development along with an apparent decline in status and standing. Nevertheless, it is apparent that public administration has standing independent of political science. The study identifies areas in which evidence is lacking, dated, or limited and calls for research in five different areas necessary to gain a better understanding of the status and development of public administration.