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The effects of legal versus business education on decision making in public administrations with a Weberian tradition

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  • Tim Rosengart

    (University of the German Armed Forces Munich)

  • Bernhard Hirsch

    (University of the German Armed Forces Munich)

  • Christian Nitzl

    (University of the German Armed Forces Munich)

Abstract

We analyse the socialization effects of a university education on decision making in a public-sector context with a Weberian tradition. The results of our vignette study of 331 law and business students and 155 professionals in German public administrations show that business students—in contrast to law students—make decisions significantly more in line with private-sector logic. This phenomenon is not observed for professionals. Individuals’ transformations from student to professional status appear to be affected by particularly strong internal and external pressures to socialize, which widely neutralizes the differences between legal and business professionals.

Suggested Citation

  • Tim Rosengart & Bernhard Hirsch & Christian Nitzl, 2019. "The effects of legal versus business education on decision making in public administrations with a Weberian tradition," Business Research, Springer;German Academic Association for Business Research, vol. 12(2), pages 455-478, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:busres:v:12:y:2019:i:2:d:10.1007_s40685-018-0081-3
    DOI: 10.1007/s40685-018-0081-3
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    Cited by:

    1. Tim Rosengart & Bernhard Hirsch & Christian Nitzl, 2020. "Self-selection and socialisation effects of business and legal studies," Journal of Business Economics, Springer, vol. 90(8), pages 1127-1145, September.

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